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

TS344

Incident date

October 16, 2019

Location

العريف بين Çelebeyi وعين عيسى, Al Arif, between Celebeyi and Ayn Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.591274, 38.586731 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Ten civilians died and others were wounded in alleged Turkish shelling of Al Araf, between Celebeyi and Ayn Issa, local media reported.

#ANF noted: “Turkish troops and mercenaries carried out aggression against the village of al-Aref located between Kobanê’s Çelebeyi town and Ayn Issa. There are reports that many civilians lost their lives in the attack.”

According to @TurkceAnha, “The invading Turkish state and its gangs launched a howitzer attack on the village of El Aref between the village of Çelebeyi in Kobanê and Eyn Isa, where there were many civilians. Many civilians were killed in the attack.”

@dersi4m said that “10 civilians were killed and several were wounded”, while @ HiwaDilan_71 tweeted that the “Turkish army massacred and wounded more than 10 civilians in the village of al-Arif.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Translation: "In the village of Abu Sirra, located between Girê Spî-Ayn Îssa, gangs attacked the civilian population."

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Arif (العريف), allegeledy located between Kobane (كوباني) and Ayn Issa (عين عيسى), in vicinity of Çelebeyi. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the middle point between Ayn Issa and Kobane are: 36.591274, 38.586731.

  • Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Arif (العريف), allegeledy located between Kobane (كوباني) and Ayn Issa (عين عيسى), in vicinity of Çelebeyi.

    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
    10
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS365

Incident date

October 24, 2019

Location

السلوك, Suluk, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.597801, 39.127185 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One health worker and two nurses working for Al Suluk hospital – Tal Abyad in Raqqa were reported kidnapped then killed allegedly by Turkey-backed militants (FSA/SNA) on October 24th, 2019, according to local media sources.

ANHA and ANF named one of the victims as Mihemed Bozan Seîdî. ANHA said the members of Al Nusra kidnapped and killed the three health workers.

The Kurdish Red Crescent identified the two nurses as Hevi Khalil and Mediya Khalil (both females, age unknown).

ANF said bodies of the victims were found in sewers.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male killed
Hevi Khalil
Age unknown female killed
Mediya Khalil
Age unknown female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–3 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Suluk (سلوك‎), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.597801, 39.127185. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1–3 healthcare_personnel)
  • 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

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS383

Incident date

November 6, 2019

Location

القنطري, Al Qenteri, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.396389, 39.264444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces and/or Turkey-backed militants’ attack on Qenteri village, Tal Abyad in Raqqa – Syria.

The attack happened on November 6th 2019, according to local sources. No additional details are presently known.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention the village of Al Qenteri (القنطري) for which the generic coordinates are 36.396389, 39.264444. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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 attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS306D

Incident date

October 10, 2019

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.387430, 38.863020 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported wounded with burns likely caused by Turkey’s use of White Phosphorus in Ain Issa, Aleppo in Syria on October 10th, 2019 according to a report by the Times.

No further details available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sipan Faisal Rasho who was burnt in the alleged Turkish attack.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Ain Issa (عين عيسى), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.387430, 38.863020. 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
    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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS423

Incident date

March 25, 2020

Location

تل أبيض, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.691373, 38.949966 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

@NPA_English reported on March 25th 2020 that “A child was killed and two others seriously injured in a mine explosion that was planted [last night] by Turkish-backed armed groups in the village of Zaytouna in Tal-Abyad countryside, northern Raqqa.”

No further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Unknown, Free Syrian Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Zaytouna (زيتونة) in the countryside of Tal Abyad (تل أبيض), for which the generic coordinates of the latter are: 36.691373 38.949966.  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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Unknown, Free Syrian Army

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI044

Incident date

August 1, 2020

Location

Bakira, Duhok, Iraq

Geolocation

37.09335, 43.48829 Note: The accuracy of this location is to District level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on a civilian vehicle near Bakira, Dohuk governorate, on August 1st, 2020, according to local sources.

Hawar News wrote that “The Turkish occupation army planes bombed a civilian car this evening in the Bakira community in the Amedi district of the Dohuk governorate in southern Kurdistan. According to preliminary information, the bombing resulted in the complete destruction of the vehicle and the loss of two people inside the car.”

@YilmazG04099451 tweeted that “fighter jets belonging to the occupying Turkish state targeted a civilian vehicle in Amêdiyê. It was reported that 2 civilians in the vehicle were killed as a result of the attack.”

The Rojava Network also reported at least two killed civilians.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Bakira community, allegedly within the Amêdiyê district. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates of Amêdiyê are: 37.09335, 43.48829.

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
    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

TI053

Incident date

December 12, 2020

Location

ديرالوك, Deraluk , Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.056612, 43.652715 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Basnews reported that three children were killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Deraluk town of Amedi district, Duhok province, on December 12th, 2020.

No further info is available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Deraluk (ديرالوك), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.056612, 43.652715 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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 children)
  • 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

TI072

Incident date

September 24, 2021

Location

هرور, Hiror, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.229298, 43.438993 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian man was injured in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Hirur on September 24, 2021.

According to @kamaran_Mulla, a civilian named Thabt Hussen was severely injured when alleged Turkish shelling landed on his land while we was harvesting pomegranates. At the time of reporting, Thabt was in critical condition and being treated at Zakho hospital. Shafaq News Agency put the man’s age at 45 while Rudaw News reported that Thabt was 55 years old.

The Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) said in a statement that the strikes that wounded the civilian occurred at 10:30am.

The Kani Masi mayor Sarbast Sabri told Rudaw News that Turkish forces targeted Hiror  village from positions in Kani Masi.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey and the majority of sources identified artillery shelling as being used by Turkish forces.

The incident occured at 10:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

55 years old male 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 (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Image of civilian Thabt Hussen being treated following strikes on his land in Hiror on September 24, 2021. (Image posted by @kamaran_Mulla)
  • Smoke billowing from airstrikes on Hiror Village on September 24, 2021. (Image posted by Basrawi News Encyclopedia)
  • Thabt Hussen, a farmer from Hirur village, was injured from alleged Turkish shelling on September 24, 2021. (Image posted by Roj News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hiror (هرور), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.229298, 43.438993. 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 (8) [ collapse]