Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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
text search
812 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

TS430

Incident date

April 9, 2020

Location

كفرنايا, Kafr Naya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.420833, 37.073889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

ANF reported that a civilian was injured in the village of Kafr Naya in Aleppo, Syria in alleged Turkish shelling on April 9th, 2020. The civilian is identified as Khaled Oso, aged 42.

“The Turkish army and allied mercenaries have carried out an artillery attack on the villages of Sheikh Hilal and Kafr Naya in Shehba region at around 17:30 local time Thursday afternoon. The bombardment on Kafr Naya injured a 42-year-old civilian named Khalid Oso and caused material damage on the houses of the residents.The man has been taken to the Afrin Hospital in the Fafin district.”

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Oso
42 years old male injured

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
    YPG/SDF

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports on the incident mention the town of Kafr Naya (كفرنايا) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.420833, 37.073889. 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
    YPG/SDF

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS432

Incident date

April 10, 2020

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.437500, 36.968333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported renewed rocket shelling by Turkish forces and the factions loyal to it on areas under the control of the Kurdish and regime forces in the northern countryside of Aleppo on April 10th, 2020.

The intense shelling targeted the villages of Aqeeba, Soghankeh, Ziyara, Dergemal, Beina and other areas located in the Shirawa district northwest of Aleppo and led to the injury of a civilian in the village of Aqiba, in addition to the killing of a member of the regime forces and the injury of others.

The incident occured in the morning.

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 targets
    Assad regime, YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Aqiba (عقيبة) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.437500, 36.968333. 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 targets
    Assad regime, YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1–2

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI034

Incident date

April 15, 2020

Location

مخيم مخمور للاجئين, Makhmur Refugee Camp, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

35.760000, 43.605000 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three women were killed alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmour refugee camp, Erbil province, on April 15th 2020, according to local sources. Four civilians were injured.

Bewar Amin, head of Makhmour Camp’s media department, told Rudaw English that “three civilian women were killed by the Turkish airstrike today near Makhmour camp. Two women were killed immediately by the airstrikes, and another woman succumbed to her grave injuries and passed away later on.”

Yeniozgur Politika reported that Turkish Unmanned Aerial Vehicles targeted the camp, killing three women who were working in the gardens around 1:10 PM. The victims were named as Eyşö Ehmed Ferhan, Ezime Akdoğan and Hawa Akdoğan.

Whereas @abdullahawez wrote that it was unclear whether the women were civilians are not, all other sources reported the victims were civilians. Yeniozgur Politika added that the camp’s residents gathered in front of the hospital and held a ceremony to bury the victims, despite the ongoing dangers of Covid-19.

Kirkuk Now reported that, in addition, four civilians had been injured.

Kurdistan24 wrote that “Turkish warplanes conducted several airstrikes on Tuesday [April 14th] and Wednesday [April 15th] that targeted alleged positions of the opposition Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). According to local media reports, the new campaign resulted in several deaths, including both civilians and PKK fighters, and significant damage to the property of local residents and farmers.”

The incident occured at approximately 1:10 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Eyşö Ehmed Ferhan
Adult female killed
Ezime Akdoğan
Adult female killed
Hawa Akdoğan
Adult female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Footage of Turkish airstrikes on Erbil province on April 15th, 2020 (via @HanaComani)
  • Photos of Makhmour camp, Erbil province, date unknown (via @y_ozgurpolitika).
  • Funeral ceremony of Eyşö Ehmed Ferhan, Ezime Akdoğan and Hawa Akdoğan, who died in alleged Turkish drone strikes on April 15th 2020 (via Yeniozgur Politika).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Makhmur Refugee Camp (مخيم مخمور للاجئين) for which the generic coordinates are: 35.760000, 43.605000. 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, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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
    Other

Sources (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI035

Incident date

April 28, 2020

Location

Xakurke, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

36.857648, 44.678650 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes in Xakurke area, Erbil province, on April 28th 2020, according to local sources. Another man was severely injured.

Hengaw wrote that Fakhir Tazaward (35) and Rasheed Miro (36) from the city Oshnavieh, Iranian Kurdistan areas, were killed in a Turkish airstrike as they were collecting plants in the mountains. Other sources also wrote that the men were doing agricultural work.

A source told Hengaw that: “The bodies of the two young men have so far remained in the highlands of Xakurke and their families have not been able to transport them to the city.”

According to @Rojname, another man had been severely injured in the bombardment.

Bas News reported that “the Turkish warplanes reportedly bombarded the borders between the Kurdistan region, Iran, and Turkey on Tuesday morning.”

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Fakhir Tazaward
35 years old male from Oshnavieh killed
Rasheed Miro
36 years old male from Oshnavieh killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the mountainous area in the Xakurke region. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for this region are: 36.857648, 44.678650.

  • Reports of the incident mention the mountainous area in the Xakurke region.

    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
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 men)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

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

TS435

Incident date

May 16, 2020

Location

Qeşqa, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.630682, 40.024910 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and an unknown number of others was wounded when Turkish forces and Turkey-backed militants opened fire at a car in northwest Ras Al Ayn city on May 16th, 2020.

A reporter for the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), which is affiliated with the Syrian regime, in Hasaka stated that “the occupation forces and their mercenaries intentionally opened fire on a van coming for Raqqa city near a checkpoint for the occupation mercenary on Saturday [May 16th]”, adding that the killed man worked in a school while the injured man is a retired worker from an electricity company.

@IbrahimDSY wrote on Twitter that there had been “one civilian martyr and another wounded, as the Turkish occupation forces and its terrorist mercenaries, fired on a civilian car near a terrorist barrier southwest of Ras Al Ayn.”

ANF stated that “the slain civilian is Mihemed Hesen El Cabir from the village of Migrin, west of Til Helef, who was on his way home back from Raqqa last night with others when Turkish-backed jihadists opened fire on the group. Several other people were injured. The man’s body was taken to Selam Hospital in Serêkaniyê.”

@vvanwilgenburg, however, reported that two civilians were killed, naming them as Mihemed Xidir Husên and Ziyab El-Elî.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Mihemed Xidir Husên
Adult male killed
Ziyab El-Elî
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qeşqa, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.630682, 40.024910. 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
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS436

Incident date

May 17, 2020

Location

دير غصن, Deir Ghosn, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.105027, 41.803837 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), a civilian was killed when allegedly Turkish forces opened fire on farmers in Deir Ghosn in Hasaka, Syria on May 17th, 2020.

SANA said that “local sources told SANA’s reporter in Hasaka that at Sunday afternoon, Turkish occupation forces opened fire at farmers working in their fields in Deir Ghosn near the Turkish borders, killing one of the farmers.”

@NadiaAbidd wrote that “a civilian was shot dead by the #Turkish occupation forces while he was working on his farmland west of Al Malikiyah town in #Hasaka countryside.”

No more details are available at the moment.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Deir Ghosn (تل تمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.105027, 41.803837. 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
    1
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS437

Incident date

May 19, 2020

Location

عرب حسن كبير, Arab Hassan Kabir, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.649744, 37.848683 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian was injured in artillery strikes by alleged Turkish-backed mercenaries on the village of Arab Hassan Kabir, Aleppo governorate, on May 19th, 2020, according to local sources.

Hawar News reported that as a result of shelling by Turkish-backed mercenaries, the 30-year-old Mohammed Hajj Hussein Al Khalaf was wounded. Medical staff told Hawar News that the man “suffered a slight head and foot injury, while the abdominal area was seriously injured, resulting in liver tear and internal bleeding, and the necessary operations were performed while he was under intensive care.”

Hawar News spoke to the uncle of the victim, Ali Al Khalaf, who stated: “We were sleeping in our homes and the shelling started at 5 am.” According to Al Khalaf, six shells landed on the village, destroying civilian homes. The victim’s uncle left the house when the shelling stopped, finding that his nephew had been wounded and taken to the city of Manbij, adding that one of the shells hit the wall of the house of his nephew.

Rojava Network reported that “Turkish-backed terror groups shelled the village Arab Hassan Kabir with mortars, wounding one civilian, in addition to material damage.”

The incident occured at approximately 5:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammed Hajj Hussein Al Khalaf
30 years old male 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Ali Al Khalaf, the uncle of Mohammed Hajj Hussein Al Khalaf, who was injured in alleged Turkish-backed artillery strikes on the village of Arab Hassan Kabir on May 19th, 2020, was interviewed by Hawar News (via Hawar News).
  • Mohammed Hajj Hussein Al Khalaf was injured in alleged Turkish-backed artillery strikes on the village of Arab Hassan Kabir on May 19th, 2020 (via Hawar News).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arab Hassan Kabir (عرب حسن كبير), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.649744, 37.848683. 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
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (2) [ collapse]