Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TS362

Incident date

October 22, 2019

Location

رأس العين, Ras Al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were wounded in alleged Turkish sniper fire in Ras Al Ain.

Rojava Information Center tweeted: “Last night two refugee civilians in Til Temir tried to travel back into Sere Kaniye to check on their shop, now in the hands of Turkish-backed jihadi forces. A sniper opened fire on them and they came off their motorbike, suffering injuries”.

ANFEnglish added: “According to reports from the ground, residents of Serekaniye, who returned to the city to check their homes, were targeted by snipers of the occupation forces.” The report said that two civilians were injured in the attacks.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

35 years old injured
36 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian receives treatment following an alleged Turkish sniper fire in Ras al Ain, October 22nd (via ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian receives treatment following an alleged Turkish sniper fire in Ras al Ain, October 22nd (via ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian receives treatment following an alleged Turkish sniper fire in Ras al Ain, October 22nd (via ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian receives treatment following an alleged Turkish sniper fire in Ras al Ain, October 22nd (via ANHA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian receives treatment following an alleged Turkish sniper fire in Ras al Ain, October 22nd (via ANHA)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS361

Incident date

October 21, 2019

Location

دادات, Dadat, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.669727, 39.089355 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Multiple sources reported that Turkish forces committed a “massacre” in Dadat village.

According to RonahiTV, “The Turkish occupation and its mercenaries committed a massacre against civilians in the village of Dadat”.

Adarpress noted that “sources confirmed that Turkish occupation forces killed a number of civilians and buried them in the village, and established a prison in the village, arresting civilians from Dadat and neighbouring villages”.

al-ain.com said that its sources “confirmed that Turkish forces killed a number of civilians in the village and placed their bodies in a mass grave.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Unknown
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dadat (دادات), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.669727, 39.089355. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 10
  • Cause of injury / death
    Unknown
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS361b

Incident date

October 21, 2019

Location

منبج, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.527201, 37.953642 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, six civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Manbij in Aleppo governorate in Syria on October 21st, 2019. The civilians injured include three children aged between 1 and 10, and three women.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Leen Ali
58 years old female Leg injury injured
Mariya Ali
1 years old female Fragments in her body injured
Hamza Meqatti
1 years old male Leg injury injured
Faten al Ali
46 years old female Trauma injured
Jana Meqatti
10 years old female Trauma injured
Khadeeja Yelesh
30 years old female Leg injury injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Manbij (منبج), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.527201, 37.953642. 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

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS361a

Incident date

October 20, 2019

Location

Zormixar, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.834913, 38.034368 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that one civilian was killed and seven others were injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Zormixar west of Kobani/Ain Al Arab in Aleppo- Syria on October 20th, 2019.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Barazi
Age unknown male KRC killed
Khalid Ali
23 years old male Fragments in his body killed
Mousa Mustafa,
20 years old male Fragments in his body injured
Jinda
Age unknown female Fragments in her body injured
Badir Muhammad
21 years old male Fragments in his body injured
Afrini Tapqa
21 years old male Fragments in his body injured
Yousif Muhammad
21 years old male injured
Shiyar Dari
23 years old male leg injury injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zormixar, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.834913, 38.034368. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS360

Incident date

October 19, 2019

Location

سلوك‎, Suluk, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.597801, 39.127185 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@TurkeyUntold tweeted: “A SOHR [Syrian Observatory for Human Rights] video shows  the execution of 4 persons including fighters of the SDF  by the Turkey backed gangs in Sluk town, southeast of Girê Spî / Tel Abyad”.

@zana_medi tweeted the same video, stating that “Turkish forces are seen executing unarmed people”.

There is, therefore, uncertainty over the victims’ combat status.

Additionally, it is unclear when this incident occurred, though sources published the footage on October 19th.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "A video monitors the execution of 4 persons including fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces by the pro-Turkey factions in Sluk town" (via SO4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "A video monitors the execution of 4 persons including fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces by the pro-Turkey factions in Sluk town" (via SO4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "A video monitors the execution of 4 persons including fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces by the pro-Turkey factions in Sluk town" (via SO4HR)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "A video monitors the execution of 4 persons including fighters of the Syria Democratic Forces by the pro-Turkey factions in Sluk town" (via SO4HR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Suluk (سلوك‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.597801, 39.127185. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–4

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS360a

Incident date

October 19, 2019

Location

راس العين, Ras Al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed (their details unknown), and three injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Ras Al Ain in Hasaka governorate in Syria on October 19th, 2019 according to the Kurdish Red Crescent.

KRC identified the three injured civilians including a child aged 13.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Majed Haj
19 years old male injured
Ageed Ebdulqadir Omar
18 years old male injured
Hussein Seoud Khalaf
13 years old male Right hand injury injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS350B

Incident date

October 19, 2019

Location

راس العين, Ras Al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, four people were reported injured with a bomb fragments, allegedly launched by a Turkish forces attack on Ras Al Ain on October 19th, 2019.

Other sources also reported a Turkish attack.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Redwan Mousa
25 years old male injured
Ali Abdul Rahman
70 years old male injured
Mahmoud Hassan Muhammad
28 years old male injured
Maryam Muhammad jeloud
25 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS358

Incident date

October 18, 2019

Location

رأس العين, Ras Al Ain, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.848579, 40.073576 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Five civilians reportedly died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on a convoy in Ras Al Ain.

ameddicleT said: “The Turkish state bombed the convoy of civilians from Serêkaniyê from the Cizre region. [We’re] Unable to obtain clear information on bombing results”.

But laraseligman tweeted:  “A Kurdish source tells me ‘there is no ceasefire at all.’ There was a Turkish airstrike today on a civilian convoy in Ras Al Ain that killed 5 people”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras Al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.848579, 40.073576. 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

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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]