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

TS035

Incident date

December 30, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3709658, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around six or seven civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria, according to LCCSY.

It reported that “24 people were killed in Aleppo, the majority by Turkish airstrikes in Al Bab city, Russian warplanes in Tadif and a car bomb in Soran.”

Turkey Post and Deutsche Welle only said there were 17 Turkish airstrikes in Al Bab but didn’t mention civilian harm.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • 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 city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3709658, 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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS036

Incident date

December 31, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between six and 11 civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY wrote: “11 martyrs in Aleppo most killed in Al-Bab city due to Turkish bombardment.”

Al Bab Al Hadath reported that all 11 people were killed in Al Bab: “11 killed and 28 wounded, the majority are children and women, due to Turkish warplanes shelling Al-Bab.”

An alleged ISIS propaganda Facebook page “Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu”, posted a graphic video of seriously burnt children allegedly from the shelling by Turkish planes. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khawlah Abo Kisheh
Adult female killed
Ibtihal Abo Kisheh
Adult female killed
Sabah Abo Kisheh
Child killed
Ahmad Abo Kisheh
Child male killed
Unidentified Child
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (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
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28
  • 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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS037 RS1814

Incident date

January 1, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and 11 civilians were reported killed in alleged air and artillery shelling on Tedef. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame. According to Syrianewsdesk however, “the shelling on Tadef killed eight people, including five civilians and others belonging to the organisation (Turkish armed forces)”. Between six and ten civilians were wounded in the raid. Only two sources blamed Russian warplanes including LCCSY and Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation. Many others blamed the Syrian regime for the shelling and the rest have attributed blame to Turkey. 

Ara News gave the lowest death count: “Turkish artillery targeted residential areas in Tedef which killed a civilian and injured eight others”.

Jisr TV accused the Syrian regime of the attack, saying that “five civilians were killed and wounded in a massacre by the regime in the town of Tedef, Aleppo.”

Abass2233 posted on Twitter that “five civilians were killed and others injured as a result of artillery shelling from the Euphrates Shield forces targeting the town of Tedef in the eastern Aleppo countryside.”

LCCSY reported 11 people were killed and blamed Russia for the attack.

According to sources, wounded civilians were transported to medical facilities following the raid. Additionally, it was made clear by sources on the ground that some of the wounded were critically so.

Syrianewsdesk specified that as many as 50 shells were dropped on Tedef, with 10 of them targeting residential housing on the outskirts of the town.

The incident occured at 14:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Karim Kenan
Age unknown male killed
Omar Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Yousef Abdul Qadir Al - Sheikh
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Son of Mohammed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Report on the five civilians killed and others wounded in the town of Tadef, Aleppo due to alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via JisirTV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation Documentation)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition, Syrian regime and Russian airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadef, Aleppo (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS039

Incident date

January 3, 2017

Location

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between five and six civilians were reported killed as a result an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Baza’a, Syria.

Jabal Aqel Al Bab listed the names of the victims however did not attribute the shelling to any belligerent.

Smart News, however, reported Turkish airstrikes on Al Baza’a that day without mentioning civilian harm.

LCCSY, on the next day, said six people died around Al Bab from Turkish artillery shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein, the son of Ahmad al Saleh al Khillo
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Mahmoud, the son of Ahmad al Haj
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Mahmoud al Khillo
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Anwar, the son of Khalil al Ahmad al Saleh Al Khillo
Age unknown male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed
Mustapha, the son of Mohammad al Mustapha
Child male named by Jabal Aqel Al Bab killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 6
  • (1 child4 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 (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Al Baza’a (البزاعة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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
    5 – 6
  • (1 child4 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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS040

Incident date

January 5, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote: “And two citizens, including a child, were killed in shelling by Turkish forces on areas in Al Bab city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo.”

The ISIS propaganda outlet Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu published a similar report and also said that 11 people were injured.

Jabal Aqel Al Bab reported that one person killed came from the Sukkar family, while the other one is a child from Al Mahdatha school. In addition, the source mentioned 15 wounded people.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Member of the Sukkar family
Age unknown killed
Child from Al Mahdatha school
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–15
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (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
    2
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–15
  • 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

TS041

Incident date

January 6, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between six and ten civilians died and up to 30 more were wounded in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least six civilians died and others were wounded – including children – in Turkish strikes on Al Bab – though it was unclear whether the report referred to a separate incident on January 7th.

An IS propaganda source, Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu, put the death toll at eight with 13 more wounded in “Turkish air and artillery shelling on the neighbourhoods of al Bab, north east of Aleppo.”

A Tweet by Jason_Alassad also blamed Turkey, reporting that 10 civilians died and more than 30 were wounded in the attack, which occurred on “Friday morning [i.e. January 6th].”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–30
  • 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]

  • 10 civilians were killed and more than 30 injured in the city of Bab east# Aleppo, as a result of the targeting of the flight # Turkish-occupation to the east of the city on Friday morning [i.e. 6th] (via @JasonAlassad)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab ( 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
    6 – 10
  • Civilians reported injured
    13–30
  • 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

TS042

Incident date

January 6, 2017

Location

العمادية, Al A’mya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

35.245556, 37.423611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and eight civilians including two children died in artillery and/or air strikes on the Syrian village of Al A’mya in the eastern Aleppo countryside, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the Syrian regime.

Halhos1 was among sources blaming Turkey. It put the death toll at three with 27 members of ISIS also killed in “dozens of raids” and artillery shelling.

However, Baladi pointed towards the regime, reporting that “according to the correspondent of My News in Aleppo, Yazen al-Halabi, eight civilians were martyred and others were wounded by intensive artillery and missile fire at the Qurays airport on the Abu Talal area, southeast of the city of Bab”.

Bof-sy also said that regime artillery shelling was responsible. It put the death toll at seven with others injured.

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “three civilians, including two children, died in Der’ Al Furat forces- supported by Turkish forces- artillery shelling of Al Amya village in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs, January 7, 2017.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • After the implementation of Turkish flights to dozens of raids on the city of #Bab and artillery shelling announced the death of 3 princes of the # Da'ash and 27 elements. (via @halhos1)
  • Turkish air strikes on the sites of the ISIS# the terrorist in the city of # Bab (via @FURATDRE)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al A’mya (العمادية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.245556, 37.423611. 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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 8
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS043

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

مدينة الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between three and six civilians including one child died and several others were wounded in alleged Turkish air or artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu cited the IS media agency Al A’amaq, reporting that there had been “18 Turkish raids on Al Bab and more than 100 artillery shells dropped on January 7th”.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Turkish forces and warplanes, which killed at least 6 people and injured several others including children, and the death toll is expected to rise because there are some people in a critical situation.”

Halab News named the civilians killed in Al Bab and reported it was a result of artillery shelling. They did not attribute blame.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdel Qader Abboud al Najjar
Child male named by Halab News killed
Fadel Hassan al Sha’abo
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed
The son of Hassan al Sha’abo
Age unknown male named by Halab News killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (مدينة 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
    3 – 6
  • (1 child2 men)
  • 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]