Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

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

TS124

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman was killed in an alleged Turkish strike on Jindires, according to multiple reports. The victim was named by multiple sources as 42-year-old Amina Sedak. Reports said that the victim had “special needs” and was “mentally impaired”.

Most reports claimed “several wounded.”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Amina Sedak
42 years old female Mentally impaired killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A photo showing destruction the local area in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • Footage showing the extend of the damage to the local area in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • Amina Sidik, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Susan Brimo)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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
  • (1 woman)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS251

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

ميركان, Mirkan villages, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.5375, 36.713889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One named civilian died and a second was wounded in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling or Mirkan villages, local media reported.

According to ANHA, Turkish strikes targeted the villages Mirkan and Kakhera of Mobata district, which in the case of Mirkan, killed one adult man and wounding another. The wounded man was reportedly recovering following his injuries.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Sheikh Mohammed Alush
75 years old male from Mirkan village killed
Abdul Rahman
86 years old male from Mirkan village injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Abdel Rahman, injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Mirkan villages. 6th March 2018. (via Kurdhr)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sheikh Mohammed Alloush, killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Mirkan villages. 6th March 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage of the aftermath of alleged Turkish airstrikes on Mirkan villages, 6th March 2018. (via Turkey untold)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mirkan villages, Aleppo (ميركان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.5375, 36.713889. 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
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS074

Incident date

February 6, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to local sources, Ahmad Bathish died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, Syria.

Al Bab 24 wrote that “Ahmad Bathish died following Turkish shelling on Al Bab today [Feb 6th].”

Al Bab Coordination also named him in a victims’ list posted on Facebook – but didn’t identify who was responsible for his death.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Bathish
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Ahmad Bathish, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, 6th Feb 2017. (via Al Bab 24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.5179666. 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS146

Incident date

February 2, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Rumaf reported that a child was killed in an alleged Turkish bombing of Jenderis, Syria.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Footage of the child killed in an alleged Turkish strike on Jindires, Feb 2nd (via Rumaf)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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
  • (1 child)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS049

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Bab 24 named Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour as killed in “Turkish shelling” in Al Bab, Syria.

On January 14th, both Amna Alali and Halab Today reported the “death of 12 civilians and wounding of 18 more as a result of a Turkish air and artillery yesterday [Jan 13th] on the town of Tadef and the city of Bab in the countryside”

There are no other details avalible at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour
Adult male killed

Summary

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

  • Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab city, 13th January 2017. (via Al Bab24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city ( الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
  • (1 man)
  • 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

TS125

Incident date

January 25, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.391667, 36.693056 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that one civilian boy died in the Jenderes area.

A second man was reported injured.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nazy Yousif Yousif
16 years old male killed
Merkan Eed
21 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. 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
  • (1 child)
  • 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

TS220

Incident date

February 22, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One possible civilian died and up to 12 others were wounded in an alleged Turkish artillery attack on a convoy headed to Afrin from Cizire and Kobane, in eastern Syria. Many reports said that the convoy was delivery medicine to the region.

Sana (Syrian state press), reported that “Turkish forces and his mercenaries pounded a convoy of aid and fuel vehicles and civilian vehicles on the road between Nabal and Afrin in northern Aleppo, wounded and killed at least 13 civilians.”

According to the SANA correspondent in Aleppo, the artillery of the Turkish regime forces targeted more than 50 missiles, a convoy of buses, civilian vehicles, trucks carrying aid, gas cylinders and fuel tanks before arriving in the city of Afrin.

The correspondent said that the “Turkish aggression caused the death of a civilian and wounded 12 others, in addition to the destruction of a number of cars, trucks and fuel tanks, noting that the injured were taken to hospitals in the city of Afrin and the nearby town of Zahra.”

However, the Turkish army claimed that it was a military convoy. According to an article in Turk Press, the Turkish Chief of Staff announced that “Turkish forces bombed a convoy of 30-40 vehicles loaded with weapons, ammunition and terrorists belonging to the BID, PKK and Da’ash organizations. The statement issued by the Turkish General Staff said that the bombing came during the movement of the convoy and its proximity to the city by 15 km.”

The statement said that “all possible measures have been taken to avoid any harm to civilians, as is the case in the military operations carried out within the olive branch.”

However, Abuturab 313 claimed that “a military and a civilian convoy were travelling under supervision of the Syrian army.”

Daily Sabah News published an article in which the Turkish army claimed that the victims were militants. The source Almodon also reported that the strikes were against “the Popular Protection Units and the regime’s militia”, reporting that the “convoy consisted of about 100 vehicles and military vehicles, most of which were stationed in the Sheikh Maksoud neighbourhood and Aleppo neighbourhoods under the control of the Kurdish units”.

However, this was followed by a denial by the SDF Press, who said: “As the Turkish state used to fabricate and market lies, its leaders went out to the media to claim that the procession was armed, according to the Turkish president and Turkish army chief of staff.”

Video was posted by internationalist commune, who apparently were in the convoy that was targeted.

A woman gives the following testimony: “We passed the night with a family of Kobane. They shared everything with us. Early in the morning we continued our way to Afrin and some people from Kobane also join the convoy, we were almost 50 buses. We crossed the check point of the Syrian regime after several hours. In the night, when we were in the region of Afrin, we started to hear the bombing. The bombs were more and more close and at some point the convoy stopped in the middle of the road and turned off the lights. We were waiting in a line attached to the wall. Turkey started to bomb us directly and all the people started to run away. Some people were injured. We got split off around a village. Some people could reach the city center of Afrin, that was 10 km far away from where the convoy was stopped, other people couldn’t reach the city and passed the night in a house of villagers, that showed their solidarity in that difficult situation.”

The dead man was named, however, a report by the Kuridish news agency Hawar News appeared to depict what looked like a military funeral for this victim – putting into question whether he was a civilian.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Salem Khalaf al-Khalif
27 years old male Questions over whether he was a civilian or military killed
Baqi Khalil Hamo
24 years old injured
Rashid Hussein Mohammed
22 years old injured
Wansa Omar Shawish
58 years old injured
Khairy Gouki Shankal
23 years old injured
Randa Hussein Jalal
Age unknown female injured
Akram Badran Pro
21 years old injured
Rougvan
21 years old injured
Khaled Tawfiq Ali
45 years old injured
Mohamed Khaled Yacoub
60 years old injured
Salem Khalif Khalaf
28 years old injured
Mohammed Farid Younis
18 years old injured
Mohamed Omar
26 years old injured
Cameron Noureddine Hussein
30 years old injured
Wensh Gawish
54 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–13
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (51) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Abutarab33)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Abutarab33)
  • A car burns in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Abutarab33)
  • A car burns in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Abutarab33)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young man killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Bint3frin)
  • ID of the young man killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Bint3frin)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Satalite image. (via Orient)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Turk)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via ANF)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The exact moments an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Sana)
  • A video posted by the Turkish General Staff during a Turkish homemade rocket launcher bombarded a convoy bound for Afrin to support the so-called Kurdish units "BD" in the city. (via Turkey alaan )
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via IC afrinresistance)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Kovan dire)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Kovan dire)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Harwa)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A young man killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • A list of the wounded. (via Rumaf)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • An injured civilian receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Afrin city, 22nd February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral of the victim. (via ANHA)
  • Funeral of the victim. (via ANHA)
  • Funeral of the victim. (via Manbij military council)
  • Funeral of the victim. (via Manbij military council)
  • Funeral of the victim. (via Manbij military council)
  • Funeral of the victim. (via Manbij military council)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin city (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–13
  • 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 (36) [ collapse]