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

TS325

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

كركي زيرا, Girkê Zîra, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.065985, 41.385284 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two named civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Girke Zera, Qamishli, sources reported.

@ HiwaDilan_71 tweeted: The occupation of the Turkish state in Qamishlo’s neighborhoods and villages continues unabated. Newaf and Fehed Ali, brothers, were wounded in the attacks on Girkê Zîra village in the east of Qamişlo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Newaf Ali
40 years old male injured
Fehed Ali
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Girkê Zîra (كركي زيرا), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.065985, 41.385284. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS305B

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

أشميا, Ashmia, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.876248, 38.107721 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces airstrike or artillery strike on Ashmia village in Kobane – Aleppo governorate on October 10th, 2019 according to local sources (Kurdish Red Crescent).

The injured civilian was named as Shahin Omar Kersh – Age unknown.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shahin Omar Kersh شاهين عمر كرش
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 Ashmia (اشميا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.876248, 38.107721. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS380

Incident date

November 3, 2019

Location

الطريق بين رشيدية و القاسمية, Road between Al Rashidiya and Al Qasimiya village, Al Hasaka, Syria

Geolocation

36.706030, 40.353696 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One member of Doctors Without Borders was killed and three other civilians including two aged 17 wounded in an alleged Turkish mortar strike on a convoy about four kilometers north of Tal Temr, local sources reported.

Hawar news said: “The invading Turkish state wounded two doctors by firing cannons at Til Temir’s convoy of Doctors Without Borders between Al-Rashidiy and Al-Qasimiyê village. The condition of one of the doctors remains serious.”

Later reports said that one of the victims had died.

Free Burma Rangers issued the following statement:

“We are very sad to announce that Zau Seng, our Kachin cameraman and medic from Burma, was killed today, Nov. 3., by a Free Syrian Army/Turkish Army mortar strike that hit our forward casualty collection point where we were assembled to treat the wounded.

“Last night, Nov. 2, we had rescued three people from this area successfully but this time we were hit very close, about 10 meters from us. Mohammed, our Iraqi translator and coordinator, was also wounded but is in stable condition in the hospital.

“Zau Seng was my brother and hero. He leaves behind a wife, Lunu, and daughter, who celebrated her first birthday today. We pledge to take care of his wife and daughter as much as we can. We believe Zau is with Jesus now, in what the people of Burma call ‘the undiscovered land.’ He has now discovered it.

“I know he’s happy and still laughing, as he was always laughing, but we are sad because the world is emptier without him.”

A second post by Burma Rangers quoted Mohammed, the wounded Iraqi translator. He said:  “Our duty is to remove civilians from the battlefield. We are a human rights organization. When we reached the village of Al-Ezîziyê, we were exposed to bombardment of gangs belonging to the Turkish state. The gangs wanted to pave the way for them to reach Til Temir. We were attacked when we treated the wounded. Despite the Red Cross flag on our vehicle, they continued to attack us. A Thai member lost his life as a result of the attacks.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Dr Zau Seng
37 years old male killed
Mohammed Ahmed
31 years old male KRC List injured
Luay Sitam Hemid
17 years old male KRC List - Fragments in the left leg injured
Muhannad Jasim Hemid
17 years old male KRC List - Fragments in the left leg injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the alleged Turkish strike on the convoy in Tal Temr, Nov 3rd.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Attempts to save the life Zau Seng, one of the members of the convoy.
  • Mohammed, part of the convoy struck by an alleged Turkish morat in Tal Temr, Nov 3rd (via Free Burma Rangers)
  • Zau Seng (via Free Burma Rangers)
  • Zau Seng (via Free Burma Rangers)
  • Zau Seng with wife Lunu (via Free Burma Rangers)
  • Zau Seng with his daughter (via Free Burma Rangers)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Attempts to save the life of Zau Seng following the alleged Turkish strike on the convoy in Tal Temr, Nov 3rd (via Hawar news)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Attempts to save the life of Zau Seng following the alleged Turkish strike on the convoy in Tal Temr, Nov 3rd (via Hawar news)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Attempts to save the life of Zau Seng following the alleged Turkish strike on the convoy in Tal Temr, Nov 3rd (via Hawar news)
  • 9th october to 14th of november doc

    KRC list of civilians killed and injured between 09 October and 14 November 2019.

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road between the villages of Al Qasimiya (القاسمية) and Al Rashidiya (رشيدية), north of the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.706030, 40.353696. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road between the villages of Al Qasimiya (القاسمية) and Al Rashidiya (رشيدية), north of the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر).

    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
  • (1 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (34) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS394

Incident date

November 18, 2019

Location

معراتة‎, Maabatli, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.562778, 36.742222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A 23-year-old woman and a member of the Difa Al Civil (Civil Defense) were killed by alleged Turkey-backed militants in the city of Afrin, Aleppo governorate, on November 18th, 2019, according to Hawar News Agency.

Hawar News Agency stated that Nircis Dawoudi and Ali Al Shaqur had just received their salaries when they were blocked by gangs on Kemrok road, Maabatli district. Their money was taken and both were killed. According to @HiwaDilan_71, both were members of Difa Al Civil, whereas Hawar News Agency stated that only Al Shaqur was a member.

@RojavaIC wrote on Twitter that the attack was perpetrated by “Turkish-backed faction Sultan Murad”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nircis Dawûdi
23 years old female Yazidi woman from the village of Kemrok killed
Ali Al Shaqur
Adult male member of Difa Al Civil (Civil Defense), from Khuta Al Sherqiya killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man1–2 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Al Shaqur and Nircis Dawoodi were allegedly killed by Turkey-backed militants in Afrin on November 18th, 2019 (via ANHA).

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Kemrok Road within the town of Maabatli (معراتة‎), for which, due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Maabatli are: 36.562778, 36.742222.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 woman1 man1–2 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS406

Incident date

January 11, 2020

Location

باشمرة, Bashmara, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.310464, 36.976003 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reportedly injured in Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Bashmara, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020, according to ANF News. Two soldiers of the Syrian regime were killed.

North Press Agency Syria reported that “the Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition groups bombed with about 15 shells on Saturday morning the village of Bashmara of Sherawa district, in Afrin countryside”, adding that the shelling killed two members of the Syrian forces.

NPA Syria identified the injured civilian as the woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada, who was transferred to a medical point of the Kurdish Red Crescent.

Hawar News interviewed the 55-year-old woman, who stated: “When I heard the sound of shells, I moved my son, who was quadriplegic, into the house in order to protect him. When I went out again, the shell fell to the meters next to me and I was hit by shrapnel and then they took me to the hospital.”

Her son, Saeed Hamada, told Hawar News his experience of the attack: “In the afternoon hours, while I was sitting in my shop, I heard the sounds of shells falling on the village, and as a result, I entered the store to avoid the shells that fall in the village. (…) While I was sitting in the shop sheltering from the shelling, I heard the sound of another shell that fell in the village and when I wanted to know where it happened? I saw smoke billowing from the house where my mother resides, and I went straight to the house to see what happened”.

Saeed Hamada rushed to his mother’s house: “When I got home, I saw my mother lying on the ground, unable to move, because she had shrapnel in her foot and the blood was flowing from the foot. Immediately, I carried her and transferred her in a vehicle to a point of the Kurdish Red Crescent in the village of Burj Al-Qas, and from that point, we went to Avrin Hospital in Fafin district.”

The son of the injured woman added: “We demand human rights organisations to stand up to mercenary practices and not allow them to continue with these violations that affect civilians.” According to the family, “mercenaries are seeking to empty their areas of their inhabitants”.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Zainab Mahmoud Hamada
55 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada was injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via ANF News).
  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada after being injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via North Press Agency Syria).
  • Site of the incident, Bashandra village, Afrin governorate, January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Photo of Saeed Hamada, who found his mother injured after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Bashandra village, Afrin governorate, January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada back in her home after receiving medical help after being injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Photo of damaged wall after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Damaged three after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • The woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada back in her home after receiving medical help after being injured in a Turkish attack on the village of Bashranda, Aleppo governorate, on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Interview with the woman Zainab Mahmoud Hamada and her son Said after she was injured in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Bashandra on January 11th, 2020 (via Hawar News).

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention artillery strikes in the village of Bashamra (باشمرة). Investigating audio-visual material from sources and conducting shadow analysis, we have narrowed it down to an exact location, for which the coordinates are: 36.310464, 36.976003

  • Reports of the incident mention artillery strikes in the village of Bashamra (باشمرة). Investigating audio-visual material from sources and conducting shadow analysis, we have narrowed it down to an exact location, for which the coordinates are: 36.310464, 36.976003

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Panoramic stitch of footage from the incident.

    Imagery:
    ANHA

  • Satellite imagery showing the distribution of buildings tagged in the panoramic stitches.

    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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS434a

Incident date

May 13, 2020

Location

مرناز , Maranaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.550776, 37.015300 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was reported injured in alleged shelling by Turkish forces on Maranaz in Aleppo on May 13th, 2020.

@NotWoofers tweeted “Additional report of a civilian casualty from Turkish shelling tonight. A young boy has been severely peppered by shrapnel.”

No further details are available.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Maranaz (مرناز), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.550776, 37.015300. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS451

Incident date

October 16, 2020

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.391336, 38.875099 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Hatem Hazem, aged eight or 13 years old, died of injuries he sustained as a result of an alleged Turkey forces or Turkey-backed militants shelling on Ain Issa area and its camp, or the explosion of a mine according to local sources. Other eight civilians including a child and two men were also reported injured in this incident.

At first, Hatem was injured and taken to hospital. One of his legs was amputated, but he died later in a hospital in Raqqa. According to Rojinfo, ‘The young boy’s leg was amputated. He was also severely injured in the other leg and in various parts of the body, he was placed in intensive care at the hospital in the city of Raqqa where he lost his life despite the efforts of medical personnel to save him.’

Most of sources blamed Turkey forced and Turkey-backed militants for the incident, but @soheb20200 tweeted that Hatem was killed while he was herding the sheep when a land mine exploded.

The US embassy in Syria condemned death of the child as a result of ‘apparent artillery fire’, without attributing the incident to any party.

Some sources circulated a different name of they boy calling him Ahmed Hasan, Mihemed Hatem Hazem, Hatim Hazim Mihemed Hatim, Hatem Zaidan Al-Mastu and Hatam Zedan Alkhel. It is unclear which one is the correct name. Sources also gave him different age with some saying eight, and others saying 13.

Freeburmarangers said that ‘At 9:30a.m on October 16th, mortar rounds from Turkish forces fell near Ain Issa, north of Raqqa in northeastern Syria. One mortar landed in the midst of a herd of sheep, killing many sheep and injuring two men and a boy, Akmed Hassan. The men received minor wounds but shrapnel tore through the boy’s left leg just above the ankle, leaving his foot dangling and held on only by skin. Akmed also received a gash high in his right thigh and shrapnel penetrated his right chest cavity. He died later of his wounds. Akmed is the 11th child killed by Turkish forces in the Ein Issa area this year. We pray for a stop to these attacks, a withdrawal of the Turkish forces and their proxies, the Free Syrian Army, and help to get people back to their homes.’

Other results of the shelling reported were destruction and damage of some houses and the killing of a number of sheep.

@Servanenefrine described the shelling on Ain Issa that led to the death of the child as indiscriminate, and Rudaw said that according to ANHA, after the bombardment, Turkish drones were seen flying over the area.

The incident occured at approximately 9:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Hatem Hazem حاتم حازم
Age unknown male From Bu Assaf tribe injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army, Kurdish Forces
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Shelling on Ain Issa, Tal Abyad district in Raqqa allegedly by Turkey or its Syrian militants on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA).
  • Shelling on Ain Issa, Tal Abyad district in Raqqa allegedly by Turkey or its Syrian militants on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA).
  • A child died of his injuries sustained as a result of a Turkey or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Hatem Hazem, a child died of his injuries sustained as a result of a Turkey or pro-Turkey militants shelling on Ain Issa on October 16th, 2020. (via ANHA)
  • Caption translation: Artillery shells fell on the Ain Issa city checkpoint, the silos and the houses of Al-Tahri. Two children were wounded, one of them was seriously injured, and they were taken to a hospital.
  • Caption translation: The child Hatem Hazem Dhu, aged 13, died of wounds he sustained this morning, and another child was wounded, during the Turkish forces' shelling of the vicinity of Ain Issa town, the M4 international road and Ain Issa camp.
  • US Embassy in Syria statement about the death of the chilld.

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the fields surrounding the city of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) being struck. Researching audiovisual material, we have narrowed down the exact location of the blast to these coordinates: 36.391336, 38.875099.

  • Reports of the incident mention the fields surrounding the city of Ain Issa (عين عيسى) being struck. Researching audiovisual material, we have narrowed down the exact location of the blast.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Tagged audiovisual material showing smoke from blast area.

    Imagery:
    Free Burma Rangers

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Kurdish Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Kurdish Forces
  • Kurdish Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–8
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army, Kurdish Forces
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (38) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI062

Incident date

June 13, 2021

Location

قلعة دزة, Qalaat Diza, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Geolocation

36.169539, 45.212478 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least four people were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes in the Qalaat Diza region, on the road between the villages of Deka and Kani Lane, on June 13, 2021. While the majority of sources refer to those killed as civilians, Turkish sources allege they five members of the PKK were killed.

According to North Press Agency “four civilians, at least, lost their lives due to Turkish air strike of a civilian vehicle. The civilian vehicle that the Turkish warplanes targeted was a Toyota carrying four people, whose identities are unknown yet. He pointed out that the area that was targeted, at exactly 13:30 on Sunday afternoon, is a civilian-populated area. It is near Helsho District, and it is not a military area. ”

Mawazin News also referred to those killed as civilians, stating that “a civilian car carrying four Iraqi Kurds” was bombed.

Sulaymaniyah Eye reported the name of one of those killed as Abu Bakr Tawfiq. Kurdistan News Now added that he got married 9 days prior to when he was killed.

Rudaw media quoted that Turkish media outlets circulated that the bombing “leaded five people to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) who were inside the car” but stated that the identities of those killed were not known.

A tweet from @metesohtaoglu, a Turkish journalist, also alleges that those killed were militants, added that “a destroyed PKK/HPG terror group vehicle is seen after it was targeted in a Turkish drone strike in Sulaimani’s Pishdar area on Sunday. 5 militants killed”.

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

The incident occured at 13:30:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Caption translation: Turkish warplanes bombed areas in Qalaat Diza, killing four civilians The picture below is of the martyr Abu Bakr Tawfiq, one of the martyrs of today's bombing. (Image posted by Sulaymaniyah Eye)
  • #Iraq- A destroyed PKK/HPG terror group vehicle is seen after it was targeted in a Turkish drone strike in Sulaimani's Pishdar area on Sunday. 5 militants killed #KRG (Image posted by @metesohtaoglu)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck on the road between the villages of Deka (ديكة) and Kani Lane (كاني لان). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for this road are: 36.169539, 45.212478.

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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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 4
  • (0–1 men)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–5

Sources (6) [ collapse]