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

TI073

Incident date

October 4, 2021

Location

سيدان, Sidan, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Geolocation

35.58366, 44.72131 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two to three people, including a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Saydani on October 4, 2021. Local sources were conflicted as to whether those injured were civilians or members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

According to Rudaw News, a 24-year-old woman and a 53-year-old man were injured in a Turkish drone strike on Saydani village. Sharif Rahim, the spokesperson for Chamchamal health directorate, told Rudaw “the injury to the man is serious.”

The head of Chemchemal’s health directorate, Sharif Raheem Moawen, told Shafaq News Agency, “two civilians from Sidan village, the Chemchemal district, were injured: a 24 years old male and a 33 years old male.”

@AnwarKazhin said the strike took place on the outskirts of Shwan sub-district.

ANF News said the incident occurred at 5:50 p.m. The source said it “believed” a Turkish drone had carried out the strike but “Iranian regime forces could also be responsible”.

Hawar News reported that the drone strike struck a car while Kurdistan 24 referred to the location as being an alleged Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) outpost, adding that “Two injured people were transferred to the emergency hospital in Chamchamal,” Chamchamal health directorate spokesman Sharif Rahim told Kurdistan 24. It was not immediately clear if the victims were PKK members or civilians.”

Said Karim, a Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) official in Qarahanjir, told BasNews that “As a result of this bombardment, three fighters of PKK have been injured who have now been transferred to Chamchamall hospital for medical treatment.”

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 pm local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sidan (سيدان), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.58366, 44.72131. 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Other
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS500

Incident date

April 16, 2022

Location

قرية الغازلي, Al-Ghazili village, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.310279, 39.016880 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured by alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al-Ghazili village east of Ain Issa on April 16, 2022, reported by Hawar News.

According to Hawar News, civilian “Hassan Hamad al-Salama” was wounded by Turkish artillery shelling and “two light bombs”, and significant material damage was caused to his house, car and sheep.

No other information is available to Airwars at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Hamad al-Salama
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Ghazili (الغازلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.310279, 39.016880. 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
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or 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 (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI085

Incident date

July 17, 2022

Location

بوابة الشام, Bab Al Sham, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.378126, 43.004683 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least five people were alleged killed and two others wounded in a drone strike in western Mosul on July 17, 2022. One woman and three men were reported killed in the attack, in a drone that state security services claimed to belong to Turkish forces.

Sources were conflicted as to whether or not those harmed in the incident were civilians: While the governor of Ninevah province claimed in an Instagram post that the drone struck a civilian vehicle, the Directorate of Counter-Terrorism in Kurdistan noted that those killed in the attack were combatants: “a Turkish army drone targeted a vehicle of PKK fighters near the Syrian gate in western Mosul on Sunday, July 17, 2022 at 14:30, killing five PKK fighters.”

Several local sources identified student and alleged civilian Ahmed Al-Jubouri as one of those killed in the attack, reported by several local sources to have been driving the vehicle when it was hit by the drone.

The incident occured at 14:22:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Al-Jubouri احمد الجبوري
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (8) [ collapse]

  • "Exclusive video of the wheel that was hit by the Turkish bombardment on the right side of Mosul" via @ahadtv
  • Wreckage of the vehicle hit in an alleged Turkish drone attack in Mosul, July 17, 2022. Sources varied in their reporting on the civilian status of those killed in the attack. Image via Nasnews
  • Number plate indicating the vehicle originated from Erbil, according to the New Arab. Image via Nasnews
  • Wreckage of the vehicle hit in an alleged Turkish drone attack in Mosul, July 17, 2022. Sources varied in their reporting on the civilian status of those killed in the attack. Image via Nasnews
  • Security services survey the wreckage of the vehicle hit in an alleged Turkish drone attack in Mosul, July 17, 2022. Sources varied in their reporting on the civilian status of those killed in the attack. Image via Nasnews
  • Wreckage of the vehicle hit in an alleged Turkish drone attack in Mosul, July 17, 2022. Sources varied in their reporting on the civilian status of those killed in the attack. Image via Rudaw
  • Image of Ahmed Al-Jubouri, via Tanak Qr Media; Al Jubouri was reported by local sources to have been driving the vehicle when an alleged Turkish drone hit the car, killing those inside and wounding two others.
  • Image posted by twitter user @shaajab1 of Ahmed Al-Jubouri, killed in an alleged Turkish drone attack in western Mosul, July 17, 2022

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in the vicinity of Bab Al Sham (بوابة الشام), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.378126, 43.004683. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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.
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–2

Sources (21) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI087

Incident date

August 29, 2022

Location

مخيم مخمور, Makhmour camp, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

35.755637, 43.603063 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and up to four others were injured, including women and children, when a Turkish airplane or drone launched strikes on a home in Makhmour camp on August 29, 2022. Some local sources indicate that a member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was also killed in the incident.

Hawar News reported that a citizen was killed when Turkish forces bombed his house in Makhmour camp. Hawar quoted Roj News Agency who reported that Afzat Abdullah, a father of six children, died after he was injured by a Turkish drone attack on his home in the afternoon. Rudaw News provided similar details of one casualty in addition to material damages.

BasNews reported that four people were injured by the Turkish drone strike on the camp, adding that the camp is controlled by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). A Facebook post by Bakuk Judy indicated that women and children were among the wounded.

A source told Shafaq News Agency that “according to preliminary information, the house was in which members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party were present, and that the bombing caused injuries” but did not specify whether those injured were members of the PKK.

Darka Mazi also reported that the strike hit “the house of a leader of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in Makhmour camp, called “Abu Zaid,” which resulted in his death”. According to a local source, “the site that was targeted is known as the fourth district” and that “these organizations held official funeral ceremonies for this person, as his coffin was decorated with pictures of the imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan and the flags of the PKK and its KGK organization.” It is unclear if “Abu Zaid” is the same person as the alleged civilian Afzat Abdullah who was killed.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strike to a Turkish plane or drone.

The incident occured at 12:40:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Afzat Abdullah
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Strikes on Makhmour camp on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Strikes on Makhmour camp on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Makhmour camp, a number of wounded people, including children and women, were bombed by Turkish planes
  • Remnants of the strike on Makhmour camp on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by Shafaq News)
  • Remnants of the strike on Makhmour camp on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by Shafaq News)
  • Men inspect the site of strike on Makhmour camp on August 29, 2022. (Image posted by Shafaq News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a strike on a house in the Makhmour refugee camp (مخيم مخمور), the generic coordinates for which are: 35.755637, 43.603063. 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS581

Incident date

December 22, 2022

Location

كوباني , Zor Maghar, west of Ain Al-Arab( kobani), countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On December 22nd 2022, three civilians, working for the Water Directorate in Kobani, were reportedly injured while doing maintenance work by Turkish artillery or heavy weapons in Zor Maghar village (or Sheikh Fawqani village or Al-Shuyukh village), west of Ain Al-Arab (Kobani). The wounded were taken to Al-Amal hospital for treatment, located in Kobani city. Another source added that the shelling caused the destruction of a car and damage to a water station. Another civilian – a man, was allegedly injured in Jarqali village, west of Kobani, earlier the same day, by Turkish shelling.

The three maintenance workers injured were identified by local sources as Muslim Khalil Ismail (also referred to as “Muslim Hamo”), Bozan Sheikh Nabi, and Fadel Bazar. A medical source said that “their injuries ranged from serious to superficial” and that they were “under health monitoring in the intensive care unit”, while a source quoting the official website of the Autonomous Administration, said the injuries were “critical”.  According to two co-chairs of the Kobani Water Directorate of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), “the injured are workers and supervisors of water pumps that push water from the Euphrates River to Kobani, and their usual work is to supervise and maintain the pumps.” SOHR claimed “four civilians” were “seriously injured”. No details were provided regarding the identity of the fourth civilian injured.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muslim Khalil Ismail (Muslim Hamo)
55 years old male injured
Bozan Sheikh Nabi
48 years old male injured
Fadel Bazar
49 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • In front of al-Amal Hospital in Kobani city, families of civilians working for the Water Directorate who were reportedly injured in Turkish shelling on December 22nd 2022. Photo: NPA

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Picture of the three civilians in Al-Amal hospital, Kobani city, after being reportedly injured by Turkish artillery while doing maintenance in a water station on December 22nd 2022. Photo: ANHA English
  • A car was destroyed by a reported Turkish shelling close to Kobani city on December 22nd 2022. Source: Hawarnes
  • A water station was reportedly damaged by Turkish shelling in Kobani countryside on December 22nd 2022. Photo: Ezdina

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    "Three workers from Kobani Water Directorate were injured during a Turkish strike by heavy weapons" Source: ANHA

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Water station
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 target
    Unknown

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS613

Incident date

July 22, 2023

Location

عزمارين, Azmarin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.055887, 36.401023 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 22nd July 2023, two civilians were reportedly injured by gunfire from Turkish border forces on the Syrian-Turkish border near the village of Azmarin, Harem in Western Idlib.

The North Press reported that both Manaf Azaddin and Yamen al-Sufarani were injured when attempting to cross the border, one in the morning and the other in the evening. The source added that the two injured Syrians were detained by the Turkish border guards, “and what followed is unknown.”

15 other civilians, including six women and their children, were allegedly detained in the two crossing attempts with their personal data and eye prints logged to prevent their entry.

This version of events was reported by several news outlets, including Shaba Al Hadath and Ronahi TV conforming to the narrative provided by the North Press.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manaf Azaddin مناف عز الدين
Age unknown injured
Yamen al-Sufarani were injured يامن السفراني
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Azmarin (عزمارين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.055887, 36.401023. 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
    Ground operation
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS642

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

مدينة نبل, Nubul, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 5 October 2023, a civilian was killed and “dozens” of others were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Nubul.

Fox Press reported that a civilian was killed and several others were injured when Turkish forces and their factions allegedly shelled the city of Nubul at dawn. According to Nubul City News, the man who was killed was 50 years old – he was returning home when he was killed, and Aleppo News identified the man as “retired Colonel Younis Younis“.

Press News reported that “dozens” of civilians were wounded by the shelling.

Images posted by Nubul News show the significant material damage caused by the shelling.

Nubul City posted that the Younes Younes was buried at the Martyrs’ Cemetery and condolences would occur at Imam Zain Al-Abidin Mosque, Eastern District

The incident occured around dawn.

The victims were named as:

Younis Younis يونس يونس
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city news facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Press News facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nubul city facebook

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS154

Incident date

February 3, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Rajo, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported the injury of six civilians in Rajo, Syria. It named the victims and listed injuries.

The weapon used was not reported.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Joan Mohammed Baker
35 years old male Bruises injured
Sheyar Khalil
32 years old male Head injury injured
Khalil Ahmad
43 years old male Shrapnel in the head injured
Mustafa Alo
31 years old male Shoulder injury injured
Othman Mohammed
32 years old male Various shrapnel wounds in the body injured
Akkash Dawood
66 years old male Various shrapnel wounds in both sides injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]