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

TS519

Incident date

June 20, 2022

Location

راجو, Rajo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

A man was killed when an alleged Turkish armored vehicle ran him over while he was walking in the town of Rajo of Afrin on June 20, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a civilian from Rajo district in Afrin was killed when a Turkish armored vehicle ran over him in the center of Rajo district. SOHR added that the civilian that was killed owned a food shop in Rajo district.

Baladi News correspondent in Aleppo countryside said that a man in his fifties named “Rasheed Mahk“, nicknamed “Abu Subhi”, was run over by a Turkish armored vehicle while it was passing through the town’s market. The incident occurred in the morning in front of the military police headquarters.

A local source told Ezdina that ” the Turkish military vehicle deliberately ran over the civilian, and although the driver of the Turkish vehicle stopped, he did not attempt to rescue him”. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the death to a Turkish military vehicle.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

"Rasheed Mahk", nicknamed "Abu Subhi" "رشيد محك" الملقب "أبو صبحي"
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, Use of objects and other means
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of "Rasheed Mahk", nicknamed "Abu Subhi"was killed when a Turkish armored vehicle ran him over in the Rajudistrict of Afrin on June 20, 2022. (Image posted by Baladi News)
  • "Rasheed Mahk", nicknamed "Abu Subhi"was killed when a Turkish armored vehicle ran him over in the Rajudistrict of Afrin on June 20, 2022. (Image posted by Ezdina)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Rajo (راجو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.676477, 36.664002. 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Accidents related to conflict, Use of objects and other means
  • 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

TS549

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6606, 40.3714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Tal Tamr and the vicinity on August 16, 2022.

Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish) released a statement alleging that Turkish shelling of Tal Tamr and its vicinity resulted in the injury of three civilians to varying degrees. There were no other independent reports of civilian harm.

Khabour posted on Facebook that Turkish forces bombed PYD/PKK militia positions in the vicinity of Tal Tamr city without providing any details of casualties.

A Facebook post from Nûçeyên Miştenûr provided information that a North Press reporter quoted a military source as saying that the Turkish forces and the armed opposition factions loyal to him targeted the villages of “Al Taweelah, Al Kozliya, Tal al-Laban, Umm al-Khair, and al-Salmasa” in the countryside of Tal Tamer, north of Hasaka, with heavy artillery and mortars.

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
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر) and its vicinity, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6606, 40.3714. 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
    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

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

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

TS647

Incident date

October 9, 2023

Location

البشرية, the village of Al-Bashiriya, al-Hasakah, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

In the morning hours of Monday, October 9th, 2023, at least five civilians, including four women and a child, were injured by an alleged Turkish bombardment while working in cotton fields in the village of Al-Bashiriya located in the Al-Darbasiyah district of Al-Hasakah in northeastern Syria.

According to the Hawar news agency and Aso news, the injured women – Raksa Saleh Fawaz (50 years old), Khadija Eidan al-Qamar (40 years old), Farah Adnan (25 years old), Zeina Hammoud (20 years old), and Jumana Hammad (12 years old), –  were taken to a hospital in Darbasiya district, and then to hospitals in Hasakah city to receive treatment. According to a medical source at Al-Shaab Hospital, Raksa Saleh Fawaz was seriously injured in the head and hand, Khadija Eidan Al-Qamar was injured in the abdomen, Farah Adnan was subjected to amputation of her legs, Zeina Hammoud was injured in the thigh, and the girl Jumana Hammad was injured by scattered shrapnel in the back.

Farah Adnan, who lost her legs in this attack, shared her grievances to Human Rights Organization “Afrin”: “Hello world, my name is Farah, and I was picking cotton with my mother when Turkey bombed us. As a result, I lost my legs, and I cannot walk and play anymore.”

Omer Hassan shared an image of Farah in the hospital where her injuries can be seen. According to him, among the injured was also Farah’s mother.

Another injured woman, Khadija Eidan al-Tamr, commented to Hawar news:  “We are female workers who work in the cotton harvest in the village of Al-Bashiriya, east of Zarkan district, and in the morning hours, Turkish aircraft bombed the area, and as a result, she and my friends at work were injured.”

Hawar news, Facebook user Qamishlo and other sources shared the images of the injured women being treated at the hospital. An elderly woman Raksa Saleh Fawaz  in a green dress is seen crying in the images while her head is bandaged.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) claimed that the number of the injured civilians was eight rather than five, and children are among the victims. However, it did not provide any further details.

Where the sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Turkish military. However, the sources differed regarding the nature of the strike – Rafidain news and Hawar news alleged that that was an airstrike, Athar press, Derbiseye Facebook account claimed that was an artillery bombardment.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Rakza Saleh Fawaz ركزة صالح فواز
50 years old female injured
Khadija Eidan Al-Qamar خديجة عيدان القمر
40 years old female injured
Farah Adnan فرح عدنان
25 years old female injured
Zeina Hammoud زينة حمود
20 years old female injured
Jumana Hammad جمانة حماد
12 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (18) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Tal Tamer facebook
  • Source: Nudem facebook
  • Source: Nudem facebook
  • Source: Nudem facebook
  • Source: Nudem facebook
  • Source: Nudem facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qamishlo facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qamishlo facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qamishlo facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Qamishlo facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Deir Ezzor updates facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nudem facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nudem facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Nudem facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hawar News

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Omer Hassan facebook

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–8
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS153

Incident date

February 3, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to Afrin Now, “67-year-old Issa Issa was wounded by shrapnel in the head as a result of the Turkish bombardment of the Jandiers area.

In a private report, the Kurdish Red Crescent also named Issa Issa as wounded – and a second man, Hassan Mustafa, aged 90, who was reportedly sustained a head and hand injury.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Issa Issa
67 years old male injured
Hassan Mustafa
90 years old male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Issa 'Issa, wounded in the head by shrapnel following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 3rd February 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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
  • 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

TS317

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

بركي, Pirikê, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

@c1wan tweeted:  “A shepherd named Xelîl Seîd Hemkê Kurd lost his life after the Turkish army attacked the village of Pirikê with a howitzer. An Assyrian citizen named Danî Hena was also injured.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said: “A civilian who was grazing livestock was killed in shelling launched by the Turkish Forces on the outskirts of Qasr Dib village in the al-Malkiyyeh countryside.”

However, @serdar_melah and @kamaloskan and several other sources said that Xelîl Seîd Hemkê was killed by “a Turkish sniper”.

The incident occured during the day.

The victims were named as:

Xelîl Seîd Hemkê Kurd
Adult male A shepherd killed
Danî Hena
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "A shepherd named Xelîl Seîd Hemkê Kurd lost his life after the Turkish army attacked the village of Pirikê with a howitzer. An Assyrian citizen named Danî Hena was also injured."

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Pirke (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, Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS349

Incident date

October 16, 2019

Location

Xanike ، بين ‎الدرباسية و عامودا‎, Xanike, between Dirbêsiyê and Amûde, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.095082, 40.774808 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@c1wan tweeted: “A civilian martyr was killed in the village of Xanike between Dirbêsiyê and Amûde as a result of the cannon shootings of the Turkish army.”

@dersm_arin also reported one civilian death.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Xanike, allegedly between the cities of Dirbêsiyê (‎الدرباسية) and Amûdê (عامودا‎).Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for a middle point between these two locations are: 37.095082, 40.774808.

  • Reports of the incident mention the village of Xanike, allegedly between the cities of Dirbêsiyê (‎الدرباسية) and Amûdê (عامودا‎).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

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
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]