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

TS037 RS1814

Incident date

January 1, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 11 civilians were reported killed in alleged air and artillery shelling on Tedef. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame. According to Syrianewsdesk however, “the shelling on Tadef killed eight people, including five civilians and others belonging to the organisation (Turkish armed forces)”. Between six and ten civilians were wounded in the raid. Only two sources blamed Russian warplanes including LCCSY and Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation. Many others blamed the Syrian regime for the shelling and the rest have attributed blame to Turkey. 

Ara News gave the lowest death count: “Turkish artillery targeted residential areas in Tedef which killed a civilian and injured eight others”.

Jisr TV accused the Syrian regime of the attack, saying that “five civilians were killed and wounded in a massacre by the regime in the town of Tedef, Aleppo.”

Abass2233 posted on Twitter that “five civilians were killed and others injured as a result of artillery shelling from the Euphrates Shield forces targeting the town of Tedef in the eastern Aleppo countryside.”

LCCSY reported 11 people were killed and blamed Russia for the attack.

According to sources, wounded civilians were transported to medical facilities following the raid. Additionally, it was made clear by sources on the ground that some of the wounded were critically so.

Syrianewsdesk specified that as many as 50 shells were dropped on Tedef, with 10 of them targeting residential housing on the outskirts of the town.

The incident occured at 14:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Karim Kenan
Age unknown male killed
Omar Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Yousef Abdul Qadir Al - Sheikh
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Son of Mohammed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Report on the five civilians killed and others wounded in the town of Tadef, Aleppo due to alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via JisirTV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation Documentation)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition, Syrian regime and Russian airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadef, Aleppo (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS038

Incident date

January 3, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, 11 civilians were killed and 26 injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, Syria.

Al Jazeera posted on Twitter that “11 people were killed and 26 wounded and an ambulance destroyed after Turkish bombardment of the city of Bab in the countryside of eastern Aleppo.”

Al Bab Al Hadath published a similar report.

Other sources like Smart News also reported airstrikes as well as artillery shelling but did not mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11
  • Civilians reported injured
    26
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • 11 people were killed and 26 wounded and the destruction of an ambulance after the Turkish bombardment of the city of Bab in the countryside of eastern Aleppo (via AJASyria)
  • Footage showing the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, 3rd January 2017. (via Nadia Abdulaziz)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    11
  • Civilians reported injured
    26
  • 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

TS063 RS1864

Incident date

January 26, 2017

Location

مدينة الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between four and 10 civilians died, including two children and two women, and up to a another dozen were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Al Bab, local media reported. It was unclear who the culprit was – with allegations against Turkey and Russia. Moreover, one report added that regime helicopters were also active over Al Bab on this day.

RT quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense, who said there had been joint Russian and Turkish airstrikes on ISIS locations near the city of Al Bab. The report made no mention of civilian harm.

According to Al Jazeera, “at least ten people were killed and others wounded by Russian and Turkish air raids on the city of Bab and its environs. Turkish artillery also targeted the organization’s [ISIS’s] positions in Bab and Ta’ad (east of Aleppo). Eight civilians were wounded in a renewed Turkish artillery shelling on the city.

Al-Jazeera’s correspondent pointed out that the IS media agency A’maq broadcast pictures of what it said was heavy shelling by regime helicopters struck the south and south-west of the city, pointing out that the final statistics of the number of victims are still unknown.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights put the death toll at four (two children and two women), and attributed the civilian harm to Turkey.

Alquds alarabi  also blamed Turkey, putting the number killed at ten civilians including a child.

Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu [IS propaganda] added that there were “seven dead and six wounded from one family following Turkish artillery shelling”.

Syria News Desk, also blaming Turkey, put the death toll at eight with 12 more wounded. It reported that “Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment targeted the city near the Osama bin Zayd mosque at the southern entrance of the city, which also led to the destruction of two houses completely. There was also damage to a number of residential buildings and shops and other property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab, Aleppo (مدينة الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

Russia has not reported any specific strikes between January 1st – 31st 2017.

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 10
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS350 TS005e

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Location

نعمان, Nu'man, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.46321, 37.43317 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten civilians were killed by alleged Turkish or Coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of Nu’man, according to local sources. The US-led alliance later denied conducing strikes in the vicinity on this date.

An initial report by ISIS-controlled propaganda unit Al A’amaq said that “10 civilians [were] killed in American raids on a group of fuel trucks in the village of Nu’man east of Akhtareen in the Aleppo countryside.”

A video with the Al A’amaq logo showed a large fire burning on a road, emitting deep black smoke. Shaam News Network cited Al A’amaq, but added context, reporting that rebels were approaching the village, which Al Jisr TV (in a separate report) said was still under the control of ISIS. A reporter for Al Jisr, which also cited A’aq’s casualty cllaims, said it wasn’t clear if the village was now in the hands of the terror group or other forces.

Turk Press, while reporting two “international coalition forces” strikes on Nu’man (without providing a date) also reported that the “Turkish army targeted 174 sites” belonging to ISIS and Kurdish rebels in “northern Syria” as part of Operation Euphrates Shield.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • News bulletin reporting on the alleged Turkish and/ or Coalition airstrikes on Nu'man, 26th October 2016. Images of burning trucks are from an al A’maq propaganda video, which is no longer available. (via Jisr TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Nu’man (نعمان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.46321, 37.43317. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Nu'man, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 25th-26th, the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a vehicle and a fighting position.” For October 26th-27th, the Coalition reported no strikes in the area.

Danish Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the past week, Denmark report carrying out 12 missions in missions in the Iraqi provinces of Salah Ad Din, At Ta’mim, Irbil, Dahuk and Nineweh and the Syrian governorates of Ar Raqqah, Aleppo, Al Hasakah and Dayr Az Zawr. They report dropping 10 precision bombs with attacks on Daesh buildings, vehicles, personnel, communications facilities and sites manufacturing IEDS

‘Mission Update nr. 19 Opdatering fra de danske styrker i internationale missioner. 27-10-2016 – kl. 13:54 Af Værnsfælles Forsvarskommando Operation Inherent Resolve – Irak og Tyrkiet Kampflybidraget Kampflybidraget deltager fortsat i kampene om Mosul. De danske F-16 kampfly har i den seneste uge gennemført 12 missioner. Der er blevet udført overvågning og efterretningsindhentning. Derudover er der udført angreb på bygninger og køretøjer med ISIL personel, personel i terræn, kommunikationsfaciliteter og faciliteter der fremstillede improviserede sprængladninger. Missionerne er foregået over de irakiske provinser Salah Ad Din, At Ta’mim , Erbil, Dahuk og Ninawa samt de syriske provinser Ar Raqqah, Halab, Al Hasakah og Dayr Az Zawr. Fra onsdag den 19. oktober klokken 1200 til onsdag den 26. oktober klokken 1200 er følgende gældende: Der er fløjet 12 missioner Der er anvendt 10 præcisionsbomber Der er totalt fløjet 202 missioner Der er totalt anvendt 298 præcisionsbomber Radarbidraget Bidraget udfører en vigtig rolle i koalitionens kamp om befrielsen af Mosul, idet bidraget forestår lufttankning af mange af de fly, der er på vej til området. Transportflybidraget Efter en længere travl periode, hvor der er transporteret 60 ton gods og 76 passagerer til Tyrkiet og internt i Irak, er det blevet tid til at vedligeholde flyet, mens de kommende missioner planlægges. Operation Ocean Shield – Seychellerne Challenger-bidraget til Operation Ocean Shield har siden den 19. oktober opereret fra Seychellerne med henblik på at gennemføre antipirateri-flyvning i Det Indiske Ocean ud for Somalia. Det er sidste gang, Danmark deltager i Operation Ocean Shield, da missionen slutter ved udgangen af 2016. Bidraget deltager til og med den 19. november. Resolute support – Afghanistan De to danske sygeplejersker på Role 2 hospitalet på basen ved Hamid Karzai International Airport i Kabul hjalp til da fem sårede ved Camp Morehead blev bragt til hospitalet. Standing Nato Maritime Group 1 Støtteskibet Absalon er returneret til Middelhavet efter at have afsluttet sin deltagelse i øvelse Joint Warrior ved Skotland. Absalon vil i den resterende del af oktober og størstedelen af november forventeligt være i Middelhavet. Det er fortsat planen, at skib og besætning skal returnere til Danmark primo december i år.’

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS041

Incident date

January 6, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians died and up to 30 more were wounded in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least six civilians died and others were wounded – including children – in Turkish strikes on Al Bab – though it was unclear whether the report referred to a separate incident on January 7th.

An IS propaganda source, Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu, put the death toll at eight with 13 more wounded in “Turkish air and artillery shelling on the neighbourhoods of al Bab, north east of Aleppo.”

A Tweet by Jason_Alassad also blamed Turkey, reporting that 10 civilians died and more than 30 were wounded in the attack, which occurred on “Friday morning [i.e. January 6th].”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–30
  • 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]

  • 10 civilians were killed and more than 30 injured in the city of Bab east# Aleppo, as a result of the targeting of the flight # Turkish-occupation to the east of the city on Friday morning [i.e. 6th] (via @JasonAlassad)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab ( الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–30
  • 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

TS238

Incident date

March 2, 2018

Location

هيلجار جنديرس, Hijlar, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.385278, 36.717778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between eight and 10 civilians died and up to 16 more were wounded in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes on Hijlar, Jindires.

According to Rok news, “Turkish forces carried out a massacre of civilians in the village of Hujailar in the countryside of northwestern Syria, field sources said. The sources confirmed Turkish artillery had targeted the houses of civilians and their vehicles, killing eight civilians and wounding 12 others.”

Rok and other sources claimed that Turkish forces had “kidnapped” the wounded and transported the dead bodies to Hattai in an attempt to “hide” the “massacre”.

The pro-Syrian regime source Syriaalasad put the death toll at 10 with 16 more injured.

Xeber 24 added that the YPG had attacked Turkish forces in the area, reporting that “the People’s and Women’s Protection Units carried out a qualitative operation in the village of Hjilar in the Jandrissa district. The sources confirmed that nine Turkish soldiers were killed and another eight wounded”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–16
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hijlar, Jindires, Afrin (هيلجار جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.385278, 36.717778. 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
    8 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–16
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS127

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

معبطلي, Ma'abatli village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.562634, 36.74562 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and nine civilians from one family died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma’abatli village, according to sources on the ground. The family were reportedly from the city of Idlib. Local media said that three of them remained under the rubble.

The story of the family’s death formed the basis of an article by Robert Fisk in The Independent, who said the strike took place at around 1am and hit the family home: “When Taha Mustafa al-Khatr, his wife Amina, his two daughters Zakia and Safa and son Sulieman went to bed in the tiny village of Maabatli, they placed their shoes outside the door. Most Middle Eastern families do the same. It’s a tradition and a sign of cleanliness in the home. The cheap plastic slippers were still there, of course, when the Turkish shell hit their house at one in the morning – and when I arrived a few hours later, I found the same shoes, a few blown down the stairs but most still neatly lined up next to each other. Did one of the daughters choose the slippers with the plastic bows? Even the rescue workers – such as they are in the Kurdish province of Afrin – didn’t touch the shoes. They left one of the blood-soaked bedspreads where it was in the rain under the collapsed roof of the cheap breeze-block house. The bodies, of course, had gone.”

Al Jazeera put the death count at nine

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Taha Al-Khater
40 years old male reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Amina Al-Khater
40 years old female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Zakiya al Khater
15 years old female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Suleiman Al-Khater
14 years old male reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Israa Al-Khater
Adult female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Mostafa Taha Al Khater
17 years old male named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Yusra Taha Al Khater
9 years old female named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Safa Taha Al Khater
19 years old female named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties, killed as a result of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Only the feet of a civilian can be seen after being trapped under the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Arif Now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Arif Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ma’abatli village, Afrin (معبطلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.562634, 36.74562. 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
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS128

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

راجو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians died and dozens more were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes in Rajo village, according to local media.

Reports from Free Afrin said that a family was struck by a reported Turkish strike – killing one civilian and injuring two more.

While most sources initially reported the victims as belonging to an Armenian family, Afrin Now later published a correction: “Today we published a news story about the victims in an Armenian family as a result of the Turkish bombardment of Rajo. However it turned out that the family is Kurdish and only one of the Armenian family origins is Armenian. We apologise for this unintended error, and we promise that we will be more careful and accurate in spreading the news to our followers.”

Other sources put the death toll higher. According to Press 23, seven civilians died and dozens more were injured by “Turkish occupation forces”. A report by Alitihad Press said “at least nine people were wounded when a rocket and artillery shell targeted civilian houses in Rajo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rocher Kunes
Adult killed
Shamsa Kounis
57 years old injured
Hanifa Kounis
25 years old leg amputated injured
Muhammad Sedo
5 years old male named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mustafa Haj Ali
74 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Asmat Gogo
62 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

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    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo village, Afrin (راجو), 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
    1 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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]