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

TS287

Incident date

December 20, 2018

Location

الدرباسية , Ad Darbasiyah, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.073092, 40.651020 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were allegedly killed in a Turkish airstrike on Ad Darbasiyah.

ANF reported: “According to reports, Turkish military forces targeted a family in the border area between Erade and Feqiran villages in Dirbesiye city of Heseke Canton.

The savage armed attack claimed the life of 4 civilians, 3 of whom are women.”

Özgür Gündem tweeted: “Turkish army targeted a family between the villages of Eradê and Feqîra in the west of Dirbêsiyê and east of Serêkaniyê around 22.30 yesterday evening. 4 people were killed in the attack, including 3 women and 5 people were injured”

Other sources published similar reports.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed El-Casim
14 years old male injured
Khaledi Abdullah Umar
65 years old male injured
Abdullah Mohammed Sayyed
22 years old male injured
Xewla Hamid Ewad
16 years old female injured
Rohilat Ibrahim Mahmoud
25 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Pictures of the alleged victims

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ad Darbasiyah ( الدرباسية ), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.073092, 40.651020. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (3 women)
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI020

Incident date

December 13, 2018

Location

مخمور, Makhmour refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

35.761235, 43.604991 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four women were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the Rustam Jodi refugee camp in Makhmour, south of Erbil on December 13th 2018, according to local media reports.

Rustom Joudi, the governor of Rastam Jodi camp, said that the Turkish shelling, which took place at 21:00 on Thursday, killed four women, three of them from one family, and were shelled while they went to their campsites.

The Turkish Army Chief of Staff announced that its warplanes bombed the positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Sinjar and Mount Qora Gokh, in the district of Makhmour. The presidency added that “The Turkish army destroyed the shelters, caches, tunnels and warehouses of the Workers Party in an air operation on the organization’s sites in Sinjar and Mount Qara Gokh.”

According to Shaffaq News “Prior to the funeral ceremony, hundreds of people had gone to the UN headquarters to push them to take a serious and concrete stance on Turkish bombing.”

No other details are known at this time.

The incident occured at 21:00:00 local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 women)
  • 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]

  • Funeral of the victims of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Makhmour, 22nd December 2018. (via Shafaaq)

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
    4
  • (4 women)
  • 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

TI019

Incident date

November 14, 2018

Location

عمادية, Amadiyah, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

37.092003, 43.486966 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilian men were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes targeting the Kurdish district of Amadiyah, Dohuk. No sources mentioned the number of wounded.

Several sources identified three victims by name. Ramadan Rikani, a local official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) added that the victims were “sons of one village, two of them Peshmerga and the other of our party cadres, were in the village raising their livestock.”

The strikes reportedly targeted the Qadash complex of Amadiyah district the night between November 14 and 15.

Families of the three civilians allegedly found their bodies when they went out to work in beekeeping in the morning.

NRT reported that “It is worth mentioning that the Turkish warplanes bombed from time to time sites and areas in the north of Kurdistan region, especially around the area of Bradust and Amadiyah and the foothills of the Qandil mountains, which have targets belonging to the PKK.”

All know sources pointed to Turkey as the culprit.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Ramzan Ahmed
Age unknown male killed
Delvan Saleh
Age unknown male killed
Ismail Hassan
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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 image was published along with the reporting about the Turkish strikes thar killed three men in Amadiyah, Duhok. The source, however, does not specify whether if these are the victims on the picture. (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Amadiyah (عمادية), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.092003, 43.486966. 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
    3
  • (3 men)
  • 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

TI018

Incident date

November 3, 2018

Location

دهوك, Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq

Geolocation

36.865292, 42.991828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Several sources reported that an alleged Turkish airstrike killed a civilian near the province of Duhok.

A “security source” quoted in reports from Almaalhomah, Iraqhbar and Alahdnews, mentions that “the bombing killed a farmer near the place of the fall of a missile.” He reportedly added that “the body was transferred to the Department of Forensic Medicine,” stressing that “Turkish airstrikes continue from time to time on a number of villages belonging to the province of Duhok.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 subdistrict of Duhok (دهوك), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.865292, 42.991828. 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
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS285

Incident date

November 1, 2018

Location

تل أبيض , Tel Fender, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.694722, 38.879444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local sources reported that a girl was killed due to Turkish shelling on Tal Fander, one of the Tal Abyad villages in northern Raqqa.

Although most sources reported that the girl was killed in an airstrike, Smart claimed that the Turkish army targeted the village with heavy machine guns and sniper fire, which allegedly killed the girl after she was hit by a bullet to the head.

In a press release, CENTCOM confirmed cross-border attacks by Turkey against SDF positions in northern-Syria, stating that the SDF temporarily suspended offensive actions against ISIS in response.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sara Rifaat
Child female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sara Rifaat was killed due to an alleged Turkish airstrike on Tal Abyad (via RBSS).
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sara Rifaat, alleged killed in a Turkish airstrike on Tal Abyad (via Euphrates Post).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tel Fender (تل فندر), for which the coordinates are: 36.694722, 38.879444

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • 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

TI017

Incident date

August 15, 2018

Location

سنجار , Sinjar, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

36.318611, 41.861111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A former leader (Zaki Shankali) of the PKK in Sinjar reportedly died along with four Yazidi people in alleged Turkish airstrikes on their convoy in Sinjar at 5 p.m on August 15th, according to sources on the ground.

The combat status of the Yazidi people is in question, however, as one source referred to them as fighters. A further source added that the shelling also hit a car, wounding an unspecified number of civilians.

Rudaw reported: “‘The bombardment of the Sinjar district resulted in the death of the commander of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Sinjar and four fighters from the Sinjar resistance units,’ said the former leader of the Sinjar resistance units and the Lalash Brigades, Ali Ali, on Wednesday, 15 August 2018.’

Almaaolomah reported that a source told them that  “the Turkish air force bombed a convoy of troops in villages oin the outskirts of Sinjar district west of Nineveh.
The source added that the the bombing resulted in the death of the leader of Bbakka Mam Zaki and a number of Iraqi Yazidis who were with him”.

Rojnews reported that “the shelling also targeted a car in the area and injured all civilian passengers.”

The incident occured at 17:00:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Zaki Shinkali
Adult male Listed as a former leader of PKK killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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 (3) [ collapse]

  • Zaki Shinkali, a former leader of the PKK, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sinjar, Aug 15th (via Adarpress)
  • The remains of the convoy alleged struck by Turksih jets in Sinjar, Aug 15th (via Rudaw)
  • The remains of the convoy alleged struck by Turksih jets in Sinjar, Aug 15th (via Rudaw)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Sinjar (سنجار ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.318611, 41.861111. 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 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • 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

TI015

Incident date

April 6, 2018

Location

سدكان , Sedkan, North east of Erbil Province, KRG, Iraq

Geolocation

36.801389, 44.665 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish artillery strike on Sedkan, according to local sources.

Basnews reported that “on Friday [April 6th], Turkish artillery continued to bombard the area of ​​Bradust and its villages in Siddakan (northeast of Erbil), injuring two civilians and displacing about 120 others from their villages.

According to information received by Basnoyos, the Turkish army bombed dozens of villages in the region of Bradust and Sidkane district, where the inhabitants of six villages in the area evacuated their homes completely and were displaced to safer areas.”

Almaalomah also reported the injury of two civilians.

Shafaaq added that three members of the Peshermega were killed in a Turkish shelling. It named them as “Tahir Mohammed, Majid Mohammed and Ramadan Mohammed”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • According to the source, Shafaaq, the authorities found the bodies of Tahir Mohammed, Majid Mohammed and Ramadan Mohammed, fighters in the Peshmerga forces who were on official leave to work in beekeeping to help their families. Killed in suspected Turkish strikes on Sedkan, Erbil Province, April 6th (via Shafaaq)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sedkan ( سدكان ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.801389, 44.665. 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI014

Incident date

March 25, 2018

Location

شيلاديزي, Shiladeza, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.037778, 43.780833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, one civilian was killed and one or two more were injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on the Shiladeza area, north of Duhok province in Iraqi Kurdistan.

One local source told Roj News Agency that the raids began in the afternoon, striking the village of Hillah, “in the area between Rikani and Niroh”. The report detailed that the airstrikes had killed one civilian and seriously injured a 35-year-old civilian, who was taken to a hospital.

Ashin Berwari, the head of the Shiladeza district, told Shafaaq that the bombardment had “caused at least two civilian casualties”. He added that the Turkish authorities are continuously shelling the villages in this area.

Ramam Ibrahim posted that the strike had seriously wounded one civilian and added that it had destroyed the farms in the area.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nihad Mahmood
35 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • The alleged Turkish airstrikes caused one victim and several injured when it targeted Shiladeza area in Dohuk (via Fazel Hawramy twitter)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Shiladeza (شيلاديزي), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.037778, 43.780833. 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
    1
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]