Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

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Incident Code

TS614

Incident date

July 23, 2023

Location

قرية أبين/ بينه, village of Abyan/Bineh, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 23 July 2023, a female civilian was reportedly injured by Turkish artillery fire in the village of Abyan/Bineh in the Sherawa district.

According to the Afrin Human Rights Organisation, 21-year old Kurdish woman Hevin Hamo Shrou from the village of Qibariyeh was injured by shrapnel in the foot as a result of artillery fire. Hevin had been residing in the village of Abyan/ Bineh after being forcibly displaced from her home in Afrin in 2018 and was transferred to hospital for treatment.

Afrin Human Rights Organisation specifically attributed the shelling to Turkish forces stationed in the village of Jalber, and identified four mortar shells as being used in the attack.

Similar details were reported by a series of sources, including a local Facebook post, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and a report from the Domiz camp.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hevin Hamo Shrou هيفين حمو شرو
21 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hevin Hamo Shrou who sustained a foot injury from alleged Turkish shelling of Bineh on July 23, 2023. (Image posted by البارتي في مخيم دوميز Domiz camp via Facebook)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS613

Incident date

July 22, 2023

Location

عزمارين, Azmarin, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

36.055887, 36.401023 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 22nd July 2023, two civilians were reportedly injured by gunfire from Turkish border forces on the Syrian-Turkish border near the village of Azmarin, Harem in Western Idlib.

The North Press reported that both Manaf Azaddin and Yamen al-Sufarani were injured when attempting to cross the border, one in the morning and the other in the evening. The source added that the two injured Syrians were detained by the Turkish border guards, “and what followed is unknown.”

15 other civilians, including six women and their children, were allegedly detained in the two crossing attempts with their personal data and eye prints logged to prevent their entry.

This version of events was reported by several news outlets, including Shaba Al Hadath and Ronahi TV conforming to the narrative provided by the North Press.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Manaf Azaddin مناف عز الدين
Age unknown injured
Yamen al-Sufarani were injured يامن السفراني
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Azmarin (عزمارين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.055887, 36.401023. 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
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS612

Incident date

July 16, 2023

Location

قرية حسن اغا, Hasan Agha village, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On 16th July 2023, a male civilian was reportedly injured by a Turkish drone strike on a car in the village of Hasan Agha, located to the south of the city of Manbij.

44 year-old Ahmed Al-Jassem was injured and taken to the nearest hospital for treatment and has subsequently been released.

An initial Facebook post published by the Manbij Military Council Media Center alleged that the strike on a civilian vehicle took place at around 11:30 am. However, both the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and the North Press reported that Ahmed Al-Jassem was injured by the Turkish strike on a military vehicle of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).  A further Facebook post by Minbij News reported that the incident left one member of SDF dead and two others injured.

The incident occured at approximately 11:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Al-Jassem أحمد الجاسم
44 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Site of impact from alleged Turkish drone strikes in Hasan Agha village on July 16, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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
    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
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS611

Incident date

July 15, 2023

Location

بلدة حارم, Harem town, Idlib, Syria

Airwars assessment

A man was injured when he was allegedly shot by Turkish border guards near Harem town on July 15, 2023.

North Press Agency reported that Turkish border guards shot and injured a 52 year old man named Riyad al-Kanou while he was checking on his land, which is adjacent to the Turkish border near the town of Harem. A local source told North Press that the Turkish border guards shot the man with several bullets, one of which hit his body, and that he was taken to Harem Hospital in critical condition.

No other sources were found reporting on this incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Riyad al-Kanou رياض الكنو
52 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS610

Incident date

July 9, 2023

Location

جورين, Jurin, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.616010, 36.269336 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 9th July 2023, up to three civilians were reportedly injured and a member of the regime forces were killed by an artillery strike allegedly carried out by the factions of the ‘Al-Fateh Al-Mubin’ operations room, a Turkish-based militia, in the town of Jurin, located in Sahl Al-Ghab in the western countryside of Hama.

The Syrian Arab Army reported on the death of one of its soldiers and identified that three individuals were injured, but only documented one civilian among the injured. Simultaneously, a report from Sahl Al-Ghab News aligns with this narrative, but suggests that one civilian was injured and three others were injured, seeming to refer to the others as militants. Whilst, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights documented the death of a regime soldier and the injury of three civilians.

According to the Syrian Arab Army, the regime responded to the incident by using missiles in the city of Jisr al-Shughur.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • #Hama: A soldier was killed and 3 others, including a civilian, were injured, as a result of rocket shells fired by terrorists at the direction of the town of #Jourin in the Al-Ghab Plain in the western countryside of Hama, and they were transferred to the Suqaylabiyah National Hospital. In response to the bombing, the Syrian Arab Army is targeting terrorist groups with missiles in the range

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jurin (جورين), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.616010, 36.269336. 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
    1–3
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS609

Incident date

July 5, 2023

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.889115, 38.350168 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the 5th July 2023, two ambulance crew members were reportedly injured by a Turkish artillery strike in southern Kobani, located in the North of Syria.

30 year-old Sozdar Othman and 25 year-old Muslim Nabi Oso were injured whilst traveling to the area of Newroz Square, which was hit by mortar shells, to evacuate possible casualties. The North Press agency reported that both individuals were taken to hospitals in the city of Kobani for medical treatment after sustaining ‘shrapnel wounds in their legs as a result of the Turkish shelling’. At the time of reporting, both men were in stable condition and were still receiving treatment at the hospital.

This version of events was reported by several news outlets, including the ANHA, Alfurat Human Rights and ANF. All of these reports conform with the narrative provided by the North Press Agency.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Sozdar Othman, 30, and Muslim Nabi Usso, 25, both members of the medical staff were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by the North Press Agency)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Alleged Turkish shelling of Kobani on July 5, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • The bombing resulted in the injury of two civilians as a result of the Turkish army targeting the vicinity of the city of Kobani, and the injured were transferred Suzdar Mustafa Othman, 30 years old, and Muslim Nabi Oso, 25 years old, to the hospitals of Kobani city to receive treatment

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.889115, 38.350168. 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
    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 (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS608

Incident date

July 5, 2023

Location

رأس العين, Ras al Ain, Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.849005, 40.071581 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At around noon on the 5th July, 2023, two children were killed and up to seven others, including a woman and a child were injured in an alleged armed clash between two of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions at the al-Qaws checkpoint at the entrance of the Turkish-occupied city of Ras al Ain in Hasakah.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two children were killed and seven others, including a woman, were injured. Orient News reported that 11 year old Abdul Rahman Hamid Al-Ahmad and 14 year-old Hassan Ali Al-Obeid were allegedly killed in the incident. However, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights stated that a 9-year old was killed, whilst his mother, a child and three civilians were injured. Orient News added that five people were injured, and the injured woman was transferred to Turkey due to her critical condition.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the clashes broke out between the Sultan Murad faction and the ‘Civilian Police’ involving medium and heavy weapons. The report also indicated that the dispute broke out at the checkpoint due to the Civilian Police preventing members of the faction from crossing the border. Subsequently, reinforcements from the Civilian Police and Turkish intelligence were requested to control the situation, in accordance with a news report by the North Press.

Orient News reported that the policeman Ismail Al-Jadaan Al-Aboud was also killed in addition to the two children, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that three members of the military police, including a minor, were killed and two members of the Sultan Murad faction were injured, and were taken to Turkish hospitals because of their critical injuries.

The majority of the sources noted that both the Sultan Murad faction and the ‘Civilian Police’ are both Turkish-backed militias operating in Syria. However, it is unclear which militia was responsible for the civilian casualties.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Hamid Al-Ahmad
11 years old killed
Hassan Ali Al-Obeid
14 years old killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Ras al Ain (رأس العين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.849005, 40.071581. 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
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–7
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–3
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS607

Incident date

July 4, 2023

Location

تديل, Tadil, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.165062, 36.887472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 4 July 2023, a family of four, including a mother and two girls, were killed and another civilian was injured by an artillery strike in the village of Tadil in the town of Urm al-Kubra, which is located in the countryside of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights released a statement that said the family were killed as a result of artillery shelling by the Turkish-backed factions of the (Al-Fateh Al-Mubin) operations room.

According to state-run news agency, SANA, a mother, her two daughters, and their uncle were killed and the husband was wounded by the missiles. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a father, and mother, and two little girls were killed by the shelling of their home.

SANA added that the strike caused material damage to homes and property in the area which is controlled by government forces. The town of Uram al-Kubra witnessed artillery shelling between regime sources and factions of the Al-Fateh Al-Mubin Operations in the early hours of the morning. The area is a de-escalation zone subject to the ceasefire agreement of Turkey and Russia signed in March 2020.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the artillery shelling to the factions of the Al-Fateh Al Mubin Operations room, with Roz Press specifying that this is a Turkish-backed faction. A Facebook post by Vito Press specified that rocket-propelled grenades were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by زين برس - Zein Press)
  • Munition from shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by زين برس - Zein Press)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tadil (تديل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.165062, 36.887472. 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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]