Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

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Incident Code

TI091

Incident date

April 15, 2023

Location

بنجوين, Kani Miran, Saliawah and Waryawh, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and two others were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the villages of Kani Miran, Saliawah and Waryawh in Sulaymaniyah on April 15, 2023.

The head of the local government in the province of Sulaymaniyah, Haval Abu Bakr, was quoted by a Facebook post from Adil Hamood as announcing that two people were killed and two others were wounded when a drone bombed villages in Penjwin district in the evening.

Hawar News quoted a source from Roj News Agency who attributed the drone strikes to Turkish forces and identified strikes on the villages of “Kani Miran, Saliawah and Waryawh,” specifically striking a car, and resulting in injuries and casualties.

An anonymous source told Rudaw News that the strikes were carried out by Turkey and they targeted fighters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). However, the source did not mention if those killed and injured were members of the PKK. Other local sources refer to those killed and injured as “people” and “citizens.”

Sputnik Today, a Russian state-run news source, reported that according to Turkish newspaper “Hurriyet,” the Turkish government had placed the city of Sulaymaniyah among the list of Turkish military targets.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS620

Incident date

August 3, 2023

Location

قرية عبوش, Aboush village, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon of Thursday August 3rd 2023, Aboush village in the countryside of Tal Tamr Hasaka, in Northeastern Syria was reportedly shelled with artillery by Turkish forces and their loyal factions, causing injuries of varying degrees to 5 civilians.

ANHA Hawar News Agency reported that the Turkish forces struck civilians of Aboush village with 5 shells, injuring the following 5 civilians: Hussein Ali Hamira, Abdel-Baqi Sayed Ali, Maher Hussein Hamira, Bassam Hamid Okla and Abdel-Karim Dahham. They were being treated at Martyr Ligrin Hospital in Tal Tamr district.

A citizen of Aboush village, Abdul Karim Daham, injured in the shelling, spoke to ANHA News Agency, stating that  “(…)the occupation targeted the village with several shells, and I did not know what happened, except that I was injured, and I left the village.”

This was corroborated by citizen Bassam al-Hamid who was also injured in the shelling, when he told ANHA News Agency: “The Turkish occupation targeted us with 5 artillery shells. I saw nothing but that one of the shells fell in front of me, which led to my injury with shrapnel in the chest, abdomen and hand.”

A third injured citizen of Aboush village Maher Hussein Hamira spoke with ANHA News Agency and reported that: “The situation was stable, except that the Turkish occupation targeted the village suddenly, as a result of which 5 people, including myself, were injured,(…) the targeting was direct to civilians and villagers.”

This version of events was reported by multiple sources: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the Turkish forces stationed in the ‘Peace Spring’ area in Northeastern Syria, shelled Aboush village. The North Press Agency and Gercek News both corroborated these facts and reported on the strategic importance of Aboush village, remarking that: “it is a junction on the M4 Highway linking Hasakah to Aleppo governorate in the northwest”. Further news outlets such as Kurdistan24 and a facebook post by Firat News reported these versions of events.

BasNews reported on the shelling of Aboush village, noting that the shelling was part of ongoing clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Turkish-backed Syrian armed factions, resulting in the injury of the five civilians. A source on the ground further highlighted to BasNews the displacement of the people from the villages caused by this shelling, who were seeking refuge in safer areas.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Ali Hamira
Age unknown injured
Abdel-Baqi Sayed Ali
Age unknown injured
Maher Hussein Hamira
Age unknown injured
Bassam Hamid Okla
Age unknown injured
Abdel-Karim Dahham
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Gercek New)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Gercek New)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS653

Incident date

October 25, 2023

Location

قرية المشيرفة, village Al Mushairfa in the Ain Issa district, Ain Issa, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon or evening of Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, alleged Turkish artillery shelling struck the village of Al Mushairfa located 8 km east of the town of Ain Issa, Syria, injuring one civilian and striking grain silos.

The injured civilian has been named by most of the sources as a 26-year old Bashar Ahmed Al-Fanash, although North News reported that his age was 23. He was transported to Ain Issa Hospital where he received treatment for his wounds, some of which were located on his head as pictured.

Numerous local sources such as Hawar News reported that the bombs also hit a grain warehouse and silos in the city centre, however did not provide further details on the damage.

All sources attributed the attack to Turkish military forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Bashar Ahmed Al-Fanash بشار أحمد
26 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANHA facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Ain Esa Plus facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Food
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS131

Incident date

January 27, 2018

Location

راحو, Rajo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that six adult male civilians were injured in the Rajo area of Afrin Canton.

In a report shared with Airwars, six adults were named as injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it also “monitored the continued Turkish forces shelling in areas of Afrin countryside. The bombing focused on the areas of Balbala, Rajo and Jenders, resulting in more material damage, and a number of other wounded”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Agid Hussen Sedo
29 years old injured
Omar Muhammad
34 years old male injured
Cuma Shaban
32 years old injured
Samer Nabo
35 years old injured
Geker Derbasea
25 years old injured
Khengo Zekerya Nabo
27 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo (راحو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS162

Incident date

February 7, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In a private report, the Kurdish Red Crescent named the following one civilian was wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Bulbul.

The type of weapon used is unknown.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salah Rashid
30 years old male injury to the ear injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bulbul, Afrin, Aleppo (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS194

Incident date

February 13, 2018

Location

بعدينو٫شيخ بلو٫ راجو , Ba'adino, Sheikh Billo, Rajo district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.620000, 36.690833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Sheikh Billo in Afrin’s Rajo district.

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported two injured in an intensive shelling by allegedly the Turk on Sheikh Billo in Afrin’s Rajo district.

A private report from KRC reported the names and type of injury of the two adult males.

Please note, some of the images from TS193 are also reported for this incident. We are unable to determine which incident they belong to.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Haitham Mustafa Ali
31 years old male shrapnel wound injured
Mohammed Aref Hannan
55 years old male head injury injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sa'arnajka, Sharan district, Afrin, 13th February 2018. (via The Kurdish Red Crescent)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ba’adino, Sheikh Billo, Rajo district, Afrin (بعدينو٫شيخ بلو٫ راجو ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.620000, 36.690833. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS226

Incident date

February 24, 2018

Location

عرب ويران, Arab Weyran, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.678333, 36.994444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to IC Afrin resistance, “Mihemed Sido Yusif, from Rejio/Bedina, Fayiq Cafer from Shera/Arab Werane [Syria] and Durshata Mihemed Ali, also from Shera/Arab Werane, were heavily injured by Turkish jets.”

The victims were also named by Rojnews.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mihemed Sido Yusif
Age unknown from Rejio/Bedina injured
Fayiq Cafer
Age unknown from Shera/Arab Werane injured
Durshata Mihemed Ali
Age unknown also from Shera/Arab Werane injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Translation: # Afrin Violent clashes continue in the village of Arab and Oran and Omra, which is part of the evil of Afrin between the fighters of the units of protection of the people and women on the one hand, the Turkish occupation army and mercenaries on the other, while the Turkish army planes bombed the region
  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)
  • An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Arab Weyran, Afrin, 24th February 2018. (via IC Afrin resistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arab Weyran, Afrin (عرب ويران), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.678333, 36.994444. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS258

Incident date

March 8, 2018

Location

سري كانية, عفرين, Siri Kanaida, Syrian-Turkish border, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.848208, 40.078991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that three civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish mortar attack in Siri Kanai on the Syrian-Turkish border. The victims were reportedly taken to hospital where they were in a stable condition.

According to Hawar, three people were injured in Sri Kanaia as a result of the Turkish occupation army launched mortar shells landed in the neighbourhood of the station near the border between the area of Sri Kaniyah and Bakur Kurdistan, amid the flight of Turkish reconnaissance aircraft over the skies of the region.

According to a source, the three wounded civilians had sought refuge in the hospital of Kanye for treatment. Another added that the three people were lightly injured, were treated and then left the hospital and one was transferred to the city of Qamishli to check on the health of some of her family.

There were various sources named the two victims.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amina Abdul Rahman Mulla Darwish
18 years old via ROK injured
Canada Mullah Darwish
13 years old via ROK injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A picture shows a woman, injured followed an alleged Turkish shelling on Siri Kanaida, Syrian-Turkish border, Afrin, 8th March 2018. (via: Hawar news)

Turkish Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Turkish Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]