Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

TS578

Incident date

December 15, 2022

Location

بوبان, Boban, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.895660, 38.196537 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On December 15th 2022, two civilians – two brothers – were reportedly severely injured following live bullets shot by Turkish forces in Boban village (Boban Saghrir village), West of Kobane. Sources described Turkish forces’ firing as “indiscriminate”.

Fawaz Ossi, 31 years old was allegedly shot in the stomach while he was renovating his house. When his brother Farhad tried to help him, he had an accident and hit his head. The incident occurred at 5 am local time according to local sources. The two brothers were taken to Al-Amal Hospital, in Kobane city, for treatment. ANHA said that “according to preliminary information, their health condition is critical, and they have been admitted to intensive care after undergoing surgeries”.

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

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Fawaz Ossi فواز أوسي
31 years old male injured
Farhad Ossi فرهاد أوسي
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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.

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Fawaz Ossi was reportedly shot in the stomach by live bullets fired by Turkish forces on December 15th 2022 in Boban village. Photo: ANHA عربية
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Fawaz Ossi reportedly shot in the stomach by live bullets fired by Turkish forces on December 15th 2022 in Boban village. Photo: كوباني مباشر_Kobanê live
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Fawaz Ossi, a Syrian civilian was reportedly shot in the stomach by live bullets fired by Turkish forces on December 15th 2022 in Boban village. His brother came to help and hurt his head in an accident. The source does not precise the identity of the person wounded here. Photo: يارسان روج Barsan Rouje

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Boban (بوبان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.895660, 38.196537. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, 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.

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS609

Incident date

July 5, 2023

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.889115, 38.350168 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the 5th July 2023, two ambulance crew members were reportedly injured by a Turkish artillery strike in southern Kobani, located in the North of Syria.

30 year-old Sozdar Othman and 25 year-old Muslim Nabi Oso were injured whilst traveling to the area of Newroz Square, which was hit by mortar shells, to evacuate possible casualties. The North Press agency reported that both individuals were taken to hospitals in the city of Kobani for medical treatment after sustaining ‘shrapnel wounds in their legs as a result of the Turkish shelling’. At the time of reporting, both men were in stable condition and were still receiving treatment at the hospital.

This version of events was reported by several news outlets, including the ANHA, Alfurat Human Rights and ANF. All of these reports conform with the narrative provided by the North Press Agency.

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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sozdar Othman, 30, and Muslim Nabi Usso, 25, both members of the medical staff were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by the North Press Agency)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • The bombing resulted in the injury of two civilians as a result of the Turkish army targeting the vicinity of the city of Kobani, and the injured were transferred Suzdar Mustafa Othman, 30 years old, and Muslim Nabi Oso, 25 years old, to the hospitals of Kobani city to receive treatment

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.889115, 38.350168. 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS636

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

بلدة صرين, village of Qafsef, southwest of Sarin, Sarin, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilian men were killed and two others were injured in the village of Qafsef located southwest of Sarin at 10:45 AM on Friday, October 5, 2023, by an alleged drone strike by Turkish forces.

Hawar News initially reported one civilian dead and two wounded, while other sources — including Kobane FM — reported three killed. According to Kobane FM, the three men named Abdul Rahim Naasan, Ismail Khalil, and Abdul Rahim Haji were killed by the strike which took place at 10:45 a.m. as per Hawar News.

According to Kobane FM Facebook account, their bodies were transported for the burial in the Martyrs’ Shrine in Sarrin district. A procession of “thousands” gathered to mourn those lost, according to a post by the Euphrates Defense Office on Facebook. Images shared by Kobane FM showed crowds carrying the coffins of the victims, each casket adorned with the photographs of the victims.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all source identified the Turkish military as responsible for this strike.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahim Naasan عبد الرحمن نعسان
Age unknown male killed
Ismail Khalil اسماعيل خليل
Age unknown male killed
Abdul Rahim Hajji عبدالرحمن حجي
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (31) [ collapse]

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    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Kobane FM facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Euphrates Defense Office facebook

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
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS120

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

مالكية, Malikya village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.542778, 36.991944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Smart News reported that according to a military source, four civilians were injured after “Turkish shelling on the village of Malikya in Aleppo which is under the control of the Kurdish units.”

Artafm News later added that “On Thursday, four artillery shells from the Turkish side landed on the outskirts of the village of Kharab Rashk in the eastern ِAl Malikiye suburb of Derek. Local sources from the village told Arta FM that Turkish tanks targeted sand trucks as they tried to get down to sand quarries in the village near the Tigris River. The sources added that the Turkish shelling did not result in casualties.”

No additional information is presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Malikya village, Afrin (مالكية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.542778, 36.991944. 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
    4
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS152

Incident date

February 3, 2018

Location

شيقيلا, Sheqela (Çeqela Jêrîn), Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5571057, 36.6133371 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Cahida Dersim reported that the “Turkish army is bombing the village Çeqela of Shiye district: at least two civilians have been wounded”.

The Kurdish Red Crescent later named an injured child as “Ahmed Mohemmed Kheljeko 7 years old got injury in his head in 322018 in Chakhalaw village. In the same incident, his mother Zerifa Beyder Gezo got injured. Heva Mohemmed Ahmed 16 years old got injury in her wrist in 32208 in Chakhalaw village, her parents got injured in the same incident (Fatmah Jamil Mustafah and Mohemmed Ahmed).”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmed Mohemmed Kheljeko
7 years old male Son, head injury injured
Zerifa Beyder Gezo
Adult female Mother, foot injury injured

Family members (3)

Heva Mohemmed Ahmed
16 years old female Daughter, wrist injury injured
Fatmah Jamil Mustafah
Adult female Mother, face, foot and hand injured
Mohemmed Ahmed
Adult male Father injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sheqela (Çeqela Jêrîn), Aleppo (شيقيلا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.5571057, 36.6133371. 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
    2–5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS183

Incident date

February 11, 2018

Location

حسية موباتا, Hassiya, Mobata district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.537500, 36.713889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that a two-year-old boy was injured when an alleged Turkish artillery shell fell on his house in the village of Husay (Mirkan), in the area of Mubata, Syria.

According to Nuce24, “a number of artillery shells landed on the village of Husay (Mirkan) in the area of Mubata, which resulted in the injury of a two-year-old infant, Mustafa Adnan.”

The source added that the child was transferred to the hospital and to the operating room. Afrin Now published a graphic image of the wounded child.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mustafa Adnan
2 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mustafa Adnan, wounded in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Hassiya, Mobata district, Afrin, 11th February 2018. (via Alitihad press)
  • Civilian wounded in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Hassiya, Mobata district, Afrin, 11th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mustafa Adnan, wounded in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Hassiya, Mobata district, Afrin, 11th February 2018. (via IC Afrinresistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mustafa Adnan, wounded in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Hassiya, Mobata district, Afrin, 11th February 2018. (via IC Afrinresistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hassiya, Mobata district, Afrin (حسية موباتا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.537500, 36.713889. 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
    1–2
  • 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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS290

Incident date

June 11, 2019

Location

شارع السكة, Tal Rifa’at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.471601, 37.095606 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was allegedly killed and three more injured in a Turkish artillery strike on Tal Rifa’at.

ANF reported: “The Turkish army and allied jihadist terrorists have launched an attack on Tal Rifaat town in the Shehba Canton neighboring the occupied Afrin Canton.

The attack with howitzer and mortar fire killed a civilian by the name of Sabri Hemdo and left three other civilians, Fikret Reşîd Xorşîd, Zêneb Murad and Mehrem Bekir, injured.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sabri Hemdo
Age unknown male killed
Fikret Reşîd Xorşîd
Age unknown male injured
Zêneb Murad
Age unknown female injured
Mehrem Bekir
Age unknown female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 town of Tal Rifa’at (شارع السكة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.471601, 37.095606. 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
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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

TS324

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

بركي, Barki/Pirikê, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.237153, 42.185783 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that one civilian was killed and another wounded in alleged Turkish shelling in Barki village, Dirak/Al-Malikiyah.

@NPA_SY said: ” Artillery shelling by Turkish forces is affecting areas in the village of Barki, located in the countryside of the town of Malikiyah / Dirk, in the triangle of the Syrian-Iraqi-Turkish border, killing one person and injuring a Syrian civilian.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

alah Saeed Hamk
Age unknown male Named by Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Dani Brno Hanna
Age unknown Named by Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A wounded civilian being treated in a medical facility following alleged Turkish shelling on Barki village, Dirak/Al-Malikiyah, Oct 12th.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Barki (Pirikê/بركي), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.237153, 42.185783. 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
    1
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]