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

TS042

Incident date

January 6, 2017

Location

العمادية, Al A’mya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.245556, 37.423611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and eight civilians including two children died in artillery and/or air strikes on the Syrian village of Al A’mya in the eastern Aleppo countryside, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the Syrian regime.

Halhos1 was among sources blaming Turkey. It put the death toll at three with 27 members of ISIS also killed in “dozens of raids” and artillery shelling.

However, Baladi pointed towards the regime, reporting that “according to the correspondent of My News in Aleppo, Yazen al-Halabi, eight civilians were martyred and others were wounded by intensive artillery and missile fire at the Qurays airport on the Abu Talal area, southeast of the city of Bab”.

Bof-sy also said that regime artillery shelling was responsible. It put the death toll at seven with others injured.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “three civilians, including two children, died in Der’ Al Furat forces- supported by Turkish forces- artillery shelling of Al Amya village in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, January 7, 2017.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • After the implementation of Turkish flights to dozens of raids on the city of #Bab and artillery shelling announced the death of 3 princes of the # Da'ash and 27 elements. (via @halhos1)
  • Turkish air strikes on the sites of the ISIS# the terrorist in the city of # Bab (via @FURATDRE)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al A’mya (العمادية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.245556, 37.423611. 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS039

Incident date

January 3, 2017

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians were reported killed as a result an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Baza’a, Syria.

Jabal Aqel Al Bab listed the names of the victims however did not attribute the shelling to any belligerent.

Smart News, however, reported Turkish airstrikes on Al Baza’a that day without mentioning civilian harm.

LCCSY, on the next day, said six people died around Al Bab from Turkish artillery shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein, the son of Ahmad al Saleh al Khillo
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Mahmoud, the son of Ahmad al Haj
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Mahmoud al Khillo
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Anwar, the son of Khalil al Ahmad al Saleh Al Khillo
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Mustapha, the son of Mohammad al Mustapha
Child male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child4 men)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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
    5 – 6
  • (1 child4 men)
  • 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

CS335 TS005b

Incident date

October 11, 2016

Location

تل بطال, Tall Btal, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.50018, 37.43927 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 3 and 4 displaced people were reported killed in camps near Tal Btal, a village south of Ra’i in the Aleppo countryside. It was unclear whether Turkey or the Coalition was responsible.

Ramaf reported that an attack hit a camp, claiming “the lives of three martyrs and [left] more than fifteen wounded as a result of being targeted by Turkish artillery. Ramaf named the three victims.

The ISIS-controlled propaganda unit al Al A’maq Agency reported that four civilians were killed, including a girl “when two tents were targeted with an American raid.”

Only two sources reported on this incident. There are no other known details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Ma’rouf
Age unknown male killed
Mahmoud Sheikh Nouri
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Adel
Age unknown male killed
A female child
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tall Btal (تل بطال), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.50018, 37.43927. 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 Tal Btal, 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 10th-11th the Coalition reported that “Near Manbij, three strikes engaged three ISIL tactical units and destroyed six fighting positions and two vehicles.” For October 11th-12th, the Coalition reported “Near Manbij, one strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit” and that “Near Mar’a, four strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units and destroyed three fighting positions and a vehicle.”

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    15
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS499

Incident date

April 16, 2022

Location

قرية تل طويله, Tel Tawel village, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.663086, 40.285234 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was severely injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 16, 2022.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists reported “the severe injury of a Christian leading to the amputation of his leg, due to artillery shelling by Turkish forces on Tel Tawel village”.

A source in the Tel Tamr Military Council told North Press that “the inhabited Assyrian village of Tel Tawil, west of the town of Tel Tamr, was hit with heavy weapons by the Turkish forces”. However, at the time of reporting, there was no information on casualties or material damage.

Various other local sources reported on the incident but did not mention civilian casualties. All of the sources that reported information blamed Turkish forces for the shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firate)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by @AssyrianSR)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 14, 2022. (Image posted by @AssyrianSR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tel Tawel village (قرية تل طويله), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.663086, 40.285234. 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
    Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS533

Incident date

July 25, 2022

Location

تل زيوان, Tal Ziwan, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.058585, 41.355114 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On July 25th 2022, an alleged Turkish shelling left civilians wounded in Tal Ziwan village, northeast of Al Qamishli, in Al Hassakah, Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that an officer in the Syrian regime forces was injured in this bombardment, carried out by Turkish forces stationed at the border outposts in this area, and that the injury was among “the presence of wounded civilians”. No sources indicated the number of civilians who were injured in this attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Ziwan (تل زيوان), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.058585, 41.355114. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS483b

Incident date

January 8, 2022

Location

Koltepe village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes or drone strikes on Koltepe village and the surrounding villages on January 8, 2022.

According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in total one civilian was killed and 12 other civilians, including women and children, were wounded in incidents across Kobani. The injuries varied in severity and were taken to Kobani hospital for treatment.

Hawar News reported the name of the civilian injured in Koltepe village: Jihan Mulla Osman Saleh (25 years old), Koltepe village.

The villages that were affected by the Turkish bombing were the villages of Tal Hajib, Qarmog, Goran, Khani, Sarzuri and Koltepe, located east of Kobani on the border with Turkey.

The General Council of the Democratic Union Party issued a written statement: “In a new test for the international community and the United Nations, the Turkish regime violated international principles and laws and targeted civilians in the center of Kobani city this morning, Saturday, with (drones) and heavy weapons, and its indiscriminate bombing resulted in martyrs and wounded civilians and extensive damage to their property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Jihan Mulla Osman Saleh
25 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • The villages of Qere Mox, Khani, Tel Hajjab and Alishar in eastern Kobani canton on the border with Turkey were being bombed on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish shelling on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kassioun)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish shelling on January 8, 2022. (Image posted by Kassioun)

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
    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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS602

Incident date

June 14, 2023

Location

الدندنية, Al Dandaniyah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.576592, 37.762351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 14 June 2023, two children were injured by an alleged Turkish artillery strike, followed by a drone strike, on a farm in Al-Dandaniyah village in Manbij, the western countryside east of Aleppo.

One of the children who survived the strike, Muhammad Saeed, noted that the attack ‘directly bombed their whereabouts’ according to Hawar News. Muhammad also told Hawar News that the other child that was injured is named Othman Al Abdullah.

According to a statement from the Press Office of Manbij Military Council (MMC), whilst attempting to transfer the children to a hospital for treatment, four members of the MMC were killed by a Turkish drone strike and left two other members injured.

This version of events is supported by documentation by the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and the Kurdish news outlet ANF. All of the sources attribute the strikes to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Saeed محمد سعيد
Child injured
Othman Al Abdullah
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)
  • Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)
  • Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)
  • Four fighters killed while trying to help two children injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by @Ahmad_1alshble via Twitter)
  • Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Dandaniyah (الدندنية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.576592, 37.762351. 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, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS631

Incident date

September 21, 2023

Location

قرية صفاوية, Safawiyah village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A civilian was injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Safawiyah on September 21, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a citizen named Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil (29 years old) was injured and transferred to Al-Raqqa Hospital to receive treatment when a Turkish drone bombed the village of Safawiyah.

BasNews reported that a Turkish drone bombed a Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) military point, resulting in casualties, including a civilian. The source specified that number of fighters were killed, including prominent officials.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil قبن عزيز الخليل
29 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Qaban Aziz Al-Khalil (29 years old), injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Safawiyah on September 21, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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
    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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (7) [ collapse]