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

TI093

Incident date

August 6, 2023

Location

جمانكي, Jamanki area, Dohuk, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On August 6th, 2023, an alleged Turkish airstrike or drone strike in Jamanki, Dohuk governorate struck a car and killed a civilian named Alain Ismail and seriously injured a civilian named Hashem Shaker.

According to Altaakhi and Kurdistan 24 reports, Alain Ismail had been married five months before he tragically passed away. Further information about Alain Ismail and Hashem Shaker cannot be found within the sources. The Jamanki area where the strike took place is a well known summer resort area, and on a major road connecting districts within the governorate. Roj News, Attakhi, Kurdistan 24, and the Baghdad Times all allege that a Turkish aircraft was responsible, although Ankara has not taken responsibility for the strike or the civilian casualties.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Alain Ismail آلان إسماعيل
Age unknown killed
Hashem Shaker هاشم شاكر
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

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
  • (1 man)
  • 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]

Incident Code

TI092

Incident date

August 6, 2023

Location

قرية جنارتوي, Gnartuy Village, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On August 6th, 2023, an alleged Turkish drone strike hit Gnartuy village in Suliemaniah province, Iraq; according to Shafaq News, the strike killed one civilian and injured another, while Alaraby and Roj News reported that the strike injured two civilians.

Alaraby reported that one civilian was from Halabja and that another held Syrian Kurdish nationality, although information on the names or other information about those alleged wounded or killed cannot be found within the sources. The drone strike hit a civilian vehicle (a jeep) travelling between the Dukan and Khalkan district, and caused a fire to break out at the scene in addition to harming people.

Alaraby, speaking to security forces, reported that the drone’s provenance is unknown although a Kurdish security officer stated an investigation is underway, while both Shafaq News and Roj News alleged that the strike was Turkish. The Kurdish security officer stressed the strike “was not random, but targeted the vehicle specifically and not others” when speaking to Alaraby.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

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
    1–2
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS620

Incident date

August 3, 2023

Location

قرية عبوش, Aboush village, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On the afternoon of Thursday August 3rd 2023, Aboush village in the countryside of Tal Tamr Hasaka, in Northeastern Syria was reportedly shelled with artillery by Turkish forces and their loyal factions, causing injuries of varying degrees to 5 civilians.

ANHA Hawar News Agency reported that the Turkish forces struck civilians of Aboush village with 5 shells, injuring the following 5 civilians: Hussein Ali Hamira, Abdel-Baqi Sayed Ali, Maher Hussein Hamira, Bassam Hamid Okla and Abdel-Karim Dahham. They were being treated at Martyr Ligrin Hospital in Tal Tamr district.

A citizen of Aboush village, Abdul Karim Daham, injured in the shelling, spoke to ANHA News Agency, stating that  “(…)the occupation targeted the village with several shells, and I did not know what happened, except that I was injured, and I left the village.”

This was corroborated by citizen Bassam al-Hamid who was also injured in the shelling, when he told ANHA News Agency: “The Turkish occupation targeted us with 5 artillery shells. I saw nothing but that one of the shells fell in front of me, which led to my injury with shrapnel in the chest, abdomen and hand.”

A third injured citizen of Aboush village Maher Hussein Hamira spoke with ANHA News Agency and reported that: “The situation was stable, except that the Turkish occupation targeted the village suddenly, as a result of which 5 people, including myself, were injured,(…) the targeting was direct to civilians and villagers.”

This version of events was reported by multiple sources: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports that the Turkish forces stationed in the ‘Peace Spring’ area in Northeastern Syria, shelled Aboush village. The North Press Agency and Gercek News both corroborated these facts and reported on the strategic importance of Aboush village, remarking that: “it is a junction on the M4 Highway linking Hasakah to Aleppo governorate in the northwest”. Further news outlets such as Kurdistan24 and a facebook post by Firat News reported these versions of events.

BasNews reported on the shelling of Aboush village, noting that the shelling was part of ongoing clashes between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Turkish-backed Syrian armed factions, resulting in the injury of the five civilians. A source on the ground further highlighted to BasNews the displacement of the people from the villages caused by this shelling, who were seeking refuge in safer areas.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Ali Hamira
Age unknown injured
Abdel-Baqi Sayed Ali
Age unknown injured
Maher Hussein Hamira
Age unknown injured
Bassam Hamid Okla
Age unknown injured
Abdel-Karim Dahham
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Gercek New)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Aboush village on August 3, 2023. (Image posted by Gercek New)

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
    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.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS619

Incident date

July 31, 2023

Location

قرية كالوتة, Kalota village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On July 31st, 2023 Turkish forces allegedly shelled several villages in the Sherawa district, injuring a child and an elderly woman in Kalota village. Both were brought to a nearby medical checkpoint. According to the news outlet NPN, at the time of reporting, their condition was unstable.

Local sources Hawar News, ANF, and multiple other sources reported that a woman and a child were injured by Turkish shelling. No other details were available about the civilian victims.

The North Press Agency pointed out that the district of Sherawa houses Kurdish IDPs from the city of Afrin, located nearby, who were displaced by Turkish forces and affiliated forces. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child and an elderly woman were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Kalota village on July 31, 2023. (Image posed by Hawar News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS618

Incident date

July 30, 2023

Location

قرية تل اللبن, Tal Al-Laban village, Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured and civilian property was damaged by heavy artillery shelling in Tal Al-Laban Village in the Tal Tamr countryside of Northwestern Syria on July 30, 2023. The attack is alleged to have been carried out by Turkish military personnel.

The three civilians injured were named by Hawar News as Omar Sadiq Sheikh Ali, Mahmoud Muhammad Al-Mayyouf, and Ahmed Ali Muhammad. The civilians were reported by Radio Arta to have been in a car belonging to a civilian construction contactor when the shells hit, though after being taken to Martyr Likrin Hospital the three men were discharged with ‘light’ injuries after receiving first aid. It is unclear to what extent the damage was to local civilian property during this attack.

All of the sources attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

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
    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

TS617

Incident date

July 29, 2023

Location

ثل رفعت , Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.455161, 37.094016 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On Saturday July 29th 2023, in the early hours of the morning, the Tal Rifaat district in al-Shahba area in Syria was reportedly shelled by the Turkish forces, resulting in the injury of at least one civilian.

Local news outlet ANF News reported the shelling and alleged it resulted in one civilian injury: citizen “Azad Hussein Kol Dadu/Kaldado”. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights further reported that Azad Hussein Kol Dadu, a civilian displaced from Afrin, was receiving treatment in a nearby medical center.

These versions of events were reported in the media by ANF News and corroborated by other media outlets such as ANHA Hawar News Agency using their ground correspondent, the UK based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), and a Facebook post by a user linked to the ANHA Hawar News Agency.

A Facebook post by Syrian journalist Ehmed Rizgar reported “injuries among the citizens” from the shelling, adding that he was only able to document the name of one of them. However, it is unclear how many injuries he is referring to.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Azad Hussein Kol Dadu
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictured, Azad Hussein Kaldado, injured by Turkish Army shelling in bombed Tal Rifaat district in al-Shahba area. Published by Hawarnews

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Tal Rifaat (تل رفعت) subdistrict, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.455161, 37.094016. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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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
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS616

Incident date

July 28, 2023

Location

الذوق الكبير, Al-Zouq Al-Kabeer, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511716, 36.774559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the evening of July 28 2023, a boy was injured by shelling allegedly carried out by the Turkish-backed National Army factions in Al-Zouq Al-Kabeer village / Kondi Mazen Sherawa Afrin, Aleppo Governorate.

According to a Syrian correspondent with Hawar News, the child’s name is Hamad (Muhammad) Khalil, 14 years old. He was brought to a hospital in the town of Al-Zahraa in the countryside of northern Aleppo, however, his health condition remains unknown.

After the incident, the correspondent confirmed that the village, which lies within the Kurdish area of deployment, remained under attack by the Turkish-backed National Army factions. DShK machine guns were also reportedly used.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Hamad Khalil محمد خليل
14 years old male Child injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Zouq Al-Kabeer (الذوق الكبير), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511716, 36.774559. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    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

TS615

Incident date

July 27, 2023

Location

تل معروف, Tal Maarouf, Al-Hasakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Thursday, the 27th of July, an alleged Turkish military drone strike on two vehicles near Tal Maarouf in Syria’s northeast region resulted in the death of two civilians. At least four members of  the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Internal Security Forces (Asayish) were also killed in the strike, while up to another four have been reported to be injured.

Initial reportage by NPA and Rudaw stated that the vehicles bombed were opposite the village of Al Shaibaniyyah, on the road between Tal Maarouf and Khazna in the countryside of Al Qamishli, and that while there were reports of injuries and casualties and eyewitnesses saying “ambulances went to the scene”, no official comments or statements had been released to specify the numbers.

In the following days, statements released by the Council of Martyr’s Families in the Jazera region and by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (Rojava) revealed the identities of the two civilians killed – a young woman in her early to mid-twenties, Waad Ali al-Khalouf, born in the village of Samihan in Tal Brak district in 1998, and a young man, Muhammad Faisal Oman, from the village of Khazna.

Al Hadath covered a statement released by Asayish, which claimed that its vehicles were attacked, reporting the death of three of its soldiers, and the injury of another two. In a Facebook post covering a later incident, Neynik referred back to the drone strike, claiming the death of three SDF forces, including a leader, and the injury of four, two of which were identified as women. The Women’s Protection Unit in the SDF released a statement confirming the deaths of four of its members in the incident.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strike to Turkey, with the Council of Martyr’s Families stating  “the Turkish occupation state’s extermination campaigns continue against the citizens of northern and eastern Syria, as its drones targeted, on July 27, two cars on the road to the town of Tal Maarouf.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Waad Ali al-Khalouf وعد علي الخلوف
25 years old female killed
Muhammad Faisal Oman محمد فيصل عمر
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2–4

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • One of the members of the Women's Protection Units killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on July 27, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب روج ٱڣٱآ Qamislo via Facebook)
  • One of the members of the Women's Protection Units killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on July 27, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب روج ٱڣٱآ Qamislo via Facebook)
  • One of the members of the Women's Protection Units killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on July 27, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب روج ٱڣٱآ Qamislo via Facebook)
  • One of the members of the Women's Protection Units killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on July 27, 2023. (Image posted by قامشلو قلب روج ٱڣٱآ Qamislo via Facebook)
  • Vehicles destroyed by by alleged Turkish drone strikes on July 27, 2023. (Image posted by Rudaw News)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man)
  • 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
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2–4

Sources (11) [ collapse]