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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Turkish Military
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Incident Code

TS056

Incident date

January 20, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians died and up to 13 more were wounded in alleged Turkish artillery and air strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

According to Al Bab News, there were “three dead and 11 injured in a continuous Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment of Al Bab”.

Syria News Desk gave more detail on the event. It said: “Four civilians were killed and 13 others injured this afternoon [Jan 20th] by Turkish artillery and air raids targeting residential areas in the city of Bab under the control of the Islamic State Organization in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.

The source who, refused to reveal his identity, told the Syria News Desk that the Turkish warplanes launched more than 15 raids on the sites of the organization around the city, including three raids, residential sites near the roundabout Manshiyet central Bab, killing four Civilians and wounding four others.

Nine civilians, five of them from a single family, were injured when three artillery shells fired by the Turkish army targeted residential buildings near the industrial zone to the southeast of Bab.

The source added that the artillery and aerial bombardment resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings in full, and a large destruction of four other houses, in addition to the burning of two cars and damage to a number of shops and other property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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 city of Al Bab city ( 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
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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

TS092

Incident date

August 29, 2017

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between six and 10 civilians including one or more child were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling on Afrin, according to local media.

Rudaw said that “Rizan Haddu, a political writer, told them that the initial result of the shelling that targeted the neighborhoods of Afrin injured six civilians to varying degrees”.

Yekiti reported the same figures, saying “six civilians were wounded when four mortar shells hit the center of the city of Afrin in Syrian Kurdistan on Tuesday evening.”

Sputnik – also blaming Turkey – put the number of “seriously wounded” at 10, including a female child.

Rok added that two Turkish rockets hit Afrin, while Step referred to “Turkish artillery” injuring several civilians, including a 10-year-old boy.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian following an alleged Turkish mortar attack on Afrin, Aug 29th 2017. (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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
    6–10
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS487

Incident date

February 1, 2022

Location

تقل بقل, Takil Bakil, Hassaka, Syria

Geolocation

37.063119, 42.224472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, four people were killed and four to five civilians were injured in Turkish airstrikes in Takil Bakil village in the Derik countryside, in northeastern Syria on February 1st 2022 at 9pm in the evening by two missiles. The Syrian Democratic Forces identified the four people killed as being fighters.

According to local sources the Turkish bombing targeted an electric power station and an oil station. The bombing led to a power outage in the area, after the power station was left with destruction. ABC News added that the strike hit the building where the guards stay. This came a day after a Turkish drone stuck another power station near the Semalka border crossing between Syria and Iraq’s Kurdish region.

The four people who were killed were workers and guards at the electric power station, identified by the SDF as “our fighters who were in charge of protecting the station”. The SDF provided the names of the four fighters killed: Siamand Afrin, Khimkin Afrin, Shiar Kobani, and Muhyiddin Derik.

The SDF identified five civilian workers as being injured in the strikes while North Press Agency reported that four civilians were wounded. All injured civilians were taken to Dirk hospital.

One injured man, Othman Hussein Suleiuman, from the village of Borouj, told North Press, “all I remember is that I heard the sound of a plane, so I went inside the station to tell my colleagues.” The North Press added that “he heard the plane being hit by two missiles, but he lost consciousness and did not feel anything until he woke up in the hospital.”

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense released a statement declaring the strike the day of, stating that “In the Winter Eagle Operation carried out; shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and so-called headquarters and training camps belonging to terrorists who threaten our country, nation and border security were targeted. In the planning and execution of the operation, maximum sensitivity was shown for the safety of life and property of the civilian population and the protection of the environment.”

Al Jazeera pointed out that Turkey cited the 51st article of the UN Charter, which states that “nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary to maintain international peace and security”.

The incident occured at 21:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Othman Hussein Suleiman
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • An injured man after a Turkish attack on Takil Bakil village in northeastern Syria. According to local sources, four civilians were killed and four civilians were injured. (Image via North Press Agency)
  • According to local sources, four civilians were killed and four civilians were injured after a Turkish attack on Takil Bakil village in northeastern Syria. (Image via North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Takil Bakil ( تقل بقل), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.063119, 42.224472. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Original strike reports

Turkish Military
Official source

By neutralizing the PKK/KCK/YPG and other terrorist elements; In order to eliminate the terrorist attacks against our people and security forces from the North of Iraq and Syria and to ensure our border security; In line with our self-defense rights arising from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, the Winter Eagle Air Operation was carried out against terrorist nests in the Derik, Sinjar and Karacak regions in the North of Iraq and Syria, which are used as bases by terrorists.
In the Winter Eagle Operation carried out; shelters, bunkers, caves, tunnels, ammunition depots and so-called headquarters and training camps belonging to terrorists who threaten our country, nation and border security were targeted. In the planning and execution of the operation, maximum sensitivity was shown for the safety of life and property of the civilian population and the protection of the environment.
After the operation, in which mostly domestic and national ammunition was used, all of our aircraft returned safely to their bases.
The Turkish Armed Forces, who emerged from the bosom of our noble nation, will continue the fight against terrorism for the security of our country and nation with determination and determination until the last terrorist is neutralized.
It is announced to the public with respect.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Declared strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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.
  • Known attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Known target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS524 ISSY025

Incident date

July 4, 2022

Location

هوشان, Hoshan, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.484055, 38.686187 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians were reported killed and three others were injured, including two children, on July 4th 2022, when Turkish or Israeli shelling targeted the village of Al-Hoshan in the countryside of Ain Issa, Syria. The majority of the sources blamed Turkey for the attack but Sout Al Hayat reported that it was as a result of Israeli bombing.

According to local sources the civilian killed was Sheikh Mohammed, aged 25. The two injured children were reported to be Khaled Jabal Ahmed, aged 16, and Bouzan Ossi, aged 17. Hawar News also reported that Mohammed Buzan Sabri, aged 25, was injured as well. There is some conflicting information in different sources as Ahmad Al Aidan, a local source on Facebook reported that Buzan Ossi was killed, not injured like in previous reports. The SDF Press Center reported that the Turkish attack killed two civilians, Sheikh Mohammed and Bouzan Ossi, who died in hospital after being subjected to a severe head injury.  The third person reported injured was Cebel Ehmed, aged 16.

North Press Agency reported that the media center of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that the village of Hoshan in the western countryside of Ain Issa district, was hit with artillery shelling by the Turkish forces and the SNA. North Press Agency put the death toll at two civilians and mentioned that two others were injured.

Ain Issa Plus reported that a tunnel digger was killed and two others were injured.

The SDF Press Center reported that this attack happened at 4pm and blamed Turkey.

The incident occured at 16:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Sheikh Mohammed
25 years old male killed
Bouzan Ossi
17 years old male killed
Khaled Jabal Ahmed
16 years old male injured
Cebel Ehmed
16 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Israeli Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    SDF Press Center reported that two civilians have been killed and two injured after Turkish shelling on July 4th 2022.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hoshan (هوشان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.484055, 38.686187. 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

Israeli Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (0–1 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Israeli Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS554

Incident date

September 18, 2022

Location

قرية قرموغ, village of Qara Mogh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.829774, 38.550523 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was injured by alleged Turkish artillery and mortar shelling of the village of Qara Mogh on September 18, 2022.

According to Hawar News, a young man was injured by Turkish bombardment of artillery shells and mortars on the village of Qara Mogh. The injured victim is named Khalil Badr, 18 years old, and he was taken to a hospital in Kobani.

Kobani News reported that “civilians” were injured and that in addition to Khalil, others whose identities were not known were injured. Residents told Kobani News that the bombardment started at seven o’clock in the morning.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the incident to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Badr خليل بدر
18 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish bombing of the village of Qara Mogh on September 18, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • 18-year-old Khalil Badr who was injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Qara Mogh on September 18, 2022. (Image posted by Kobani News)
  • Alleged Turkish bombing of the village of Qara Mogh on September 18, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qara Mogh (قرية قرموغ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.829774, 38.550523. 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
    1–3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS594

Incident date

May 17, 2023

Location

جديدة, Jadeda, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.856194, 39.420054 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including at least one child, were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Jadeda village on May 17, 2023.

Rohani TV reported that Turkish forces bombarded Jadeda village, resulting in the injury of three civilians: Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa, his brother Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa, and Muhammad Salem Kamal. The director of the National Hospital in the city of Raqqa, Ibrahim al-Omar, told Rohani TV that their condition is stable.

North Press Agency also reported 3 civilians injured, and provided the age of two of the  victims : 17 year old Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa and 32 year old Kamal Mahmoud al-Wagaa (unclear if this is Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa or Muhammad Salem Kamal listed above). According to a medical source at the Emergency Department at the Raqqa National Hospital, both Mahmoud and Kamal were immediately admitted into the operating room and were in critical condition. A cousin of the third victim told North Press that he and his cousin were grazing their sheep when they were struck by Turkish artillery.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to those injured in Jadeda village as two “tunnel workers” and a 13 year old boy.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhammad Fawaz Al-Waqqa'
male injured
Mahmoud Fawaz Al-Waqqa'
male injured

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Salem Kamal
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jadeda (جديدة), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.856194, 39.420054. 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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS626

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

قرية البركة, Al Baraka village, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 25 August 2023, a man and wife and their child were reportedly injured by a ‘terrorist’ mortar missile in the village of Al-Baraka, located in the north-western Hama countryside.

A Facebook post by a correspondent for Al Ghab valley in Hama reported that the injured child is 6 months old and that the family were transferred to a hospital in Hama in serious condition.

The source added that the mortar shells were launched by ‘terrorist groups’. This incident was among multiple which occurred on the same day, with other sources attributing similar incidents on this day to “Luwaa Uthman Ibn Affan” which is one of the formations of HTS (Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham) and has been associated with Turkish forces.

No other sources were found reporting on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–1
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS674

Incident date

December 28, 2023

Location

مركز غسيل الكلى, Dialysis Centre, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.054172, 41.262636 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On December 28th, 2023, a 65 year-old kidney patient identified as Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr reportedly died as he could not access treatment, following the reported destruction three days earlier of a dialysis center hit by alleged Turkish air or drone strikes in Qamishlo city.

Rojava TV and Ibrahim Sheikho described Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr as a former kidney patient who had been sick for more than two years. Sources both said he was Syrian, born in 1958 in Amuda, Al-Jazira district, and died as he could not access treatment following the destruction of the dialysis center. Ibrahim Sheikho posted a picture of the alleged victim on Facebook. Rojava TV claimed that he had undergone three dialysis sessions in the last two years. It further stated that the dialysis center had prior to the attack capacity to treat 70 patients and was equipped with only one emergency room with one device to provide dialysis treatment. No information was available as to where the victim died.

Qamishlo puls on Facebook alongside other sources reported that on December 25th 2023, alleged Turkish bombing in Qamishlo resulted in putting the “only dialysis center out of service”. Al Hafel on Facebook posted a video showing the damage to the building and piles of rubble – the source further claimed that the Syrian Democratic Forces are using hospitals and schools, such as the dialysis center, as “headquarters”, and that these buildings are hit by alleged Turkish drone strikes. Multiple sources reported that the oxygen plant in Qamishlo was also destroyed by alleged Turkish strikes on December 25th, 2023.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr أحمد عبد الرحمن خضر
65 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Source: Qamishlo puls
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho
  • Source: Ibrahim Sheikho

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an alleged strike on the Dialysis Centre (مركز غسيل الكلى), to the east of Qamishli (ٱلْقَامِشْلِي). As there is no information available as to where the victim died, the location accuracy for this incident is set to “nearby landmark”. The generic coordinates for the Dialysis Centre are: 37.054172, 41.262636.

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 infrastructure
    Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Impact
    Healthcare
    Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]