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

TS236

Incident date

March 1, 2018

Location

ميدانكي, Mydanke, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.642500, 36.881389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and others were wounded in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Mydanke in Afrin, local media reported.

Sources said that the victim was hit by shrapnel.

According to Qsdheza “others” were also wounded in the attack. IC Afrin reported that “many civilians were injured”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Habiba Ibrahim Khalil Mohammad
48 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–10
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Mydanke, Afrin, 1st March 2018. (via Afrin now)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish raid on Mydanke, Afrin, 1st March 2018. (via Afrin now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Habiba Ibrahim Khalil Mohammad, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mydanke, Afrin, 1st March 2018. (via Ismael Sharif)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Habiba Ibrahim Khalil Mohammad, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mydanke, Afrin, 1st March 2018. (via Ismael IC Afrin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Habiba Ibrahim Khalil Mohammad, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mydanke, Afrin, 1st March 2018. (via Afrin Qalb Alhadath)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mydanke, Afrin (ميدانكي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.642500, 36.881389. 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
    2–10
  • 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]

Incident Code

TS233

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

بطينة, Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.620000, 36.690833 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Hawar news reported “A civilian was seriously wounded by the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries on Badina town related to Mobata district.” The man was named as “35-year-old Abdo Rasheed from the village of Qatma”.

Other sources reported that Turkish warplanes carried out strikes on the Syrian area but made no mention of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdo Rasheed
35 years old male injured

Summary

  • 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Batina town, Mobata district, Afrin (بطينة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.620000, 36.690833. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS234

Incident date

February 28, 2018

Location

ميركان, Mirkan village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.537500, 36.713889 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported that between one and three civilians died and three more were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Mirkan village, Syria.

Multiple sources named Juan Mohammed Omar as killed.

Sources added that three other civilians were wounded. Rumaf named one of these as Fahima Ahmed, 39, who sustained an injury “with shrapnel in the left foot”.

Villages told Afrin, heart of the news, that “six shells fell on the village and its surroundings”.

According to Abdinx1x, one of two civilians wounded was a woman with special needs.

One source, Karam Youssef , said that three civilians died.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Juan Mohammed Omar
Adult male killed
Fahima Ahmed
39 years old female who sustained an injury “with shrapnel in the left foot injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • Translation: A state of fear dominates the village of Mirkan in Afrin after the village was targeted by Turkish artillery and a civilian was killed and 2 others were wounded, one of them a woman with special needs.
  • Translation: The martyrdom of the civilian "Joan Mohammed Omar" as a result of the Turkish bombing today on the village of Merkan (Condi Hasa) belonging to the area of Maabtli in Afrin. Three civilians were wounded.
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • Showing the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Mirkan village, Afrin, 28th February 2018.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Mirkan village, Afrin (ميركان), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.537500, 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 – 3
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (17) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS231

Incident date

February 27, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires town, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two civilians died and three more were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Jindires town, Syria, according to local media.

IC Afrin Resistance reported: “The Turkish army is shelling the surroundings of Jinderese center/ Jinderese district. At least two civilians were killed and three civilians were injured”.

According to SDF Press, “the army of the Turkish invasion and the terrorist factions targeted the center of the town of Jindires and the village of Yilanguz with heavy weapons. The initial result is the death of two civilian martyrs and wounding of three more”.

Other sources also put the death toll at two civilians with three more injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A shell embedded into the ground following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires town, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via ANF)
  • A shell embedded into the ground following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires town, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via ANF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The exact moments an an alleged Turkish airstrike hit Jindires town, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via Claudia)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Jindires town, 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
    2
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS232

Incident date

February 27, 2018

Location

يلنقوز, Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Two named civilians died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Yilanguz village, Syria, local media reported.

According to Rumaf, “The Turkish bombardment targeted the village of Jilanguz in the district of Jendiris with artillery, which led to the death of the citizen.

The source published very graphic images of the victim.

The victim was also named by Afrin Now.

A second victim was named by ANHA, with the source reporting that “dozens of artillery shells fell” on Yilanguz.

According to SDF Press, “the army of the Turkish invasion and the terrorist factions targeted the center of the town of Jindires and the village of Yilanguz with heavy weapons. The initial result is the death of two civilian martyrs and wounding of three more”.

SDF Press also put the death toll at two with three more wounded.

However, according to KDP, five civilians died, including children.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Mankawi
21 years old male killed
Muhammad Walid
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Mahmud Mankawi, 21, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via Afrin Now)
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    A civilian killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via SDF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • Footage reporting on an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 27th February 2018. (via Anha )

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin (يلنقوز), 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
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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 (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS230

Incident date

February 26, 2018

Location

جيلمية, Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.356111, 36.769722 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Local media reported the injury of one civilian in an alleged Turkish shelling of Celemeye, Syria.

According to SDF Press, Turkey fired mortar shells on the village, “causing civilian casualties”.

7al reported that “the administration of the hospital Afrin said that the civilian Mohammed Omar Hamo (48 years) arrived at the hospital with several shrapnel wounds as a result of the bombing of the Turkish army on the village of Jalma, in the area of ​​Jindires”.

Yikiti media said that “many civilians were injured by this brutal bombing”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Hammo
48 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–10
  • 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]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Omar Hammo, injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Yikiti media)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Omar Hammo, injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via IC AFrin resistance)
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    Omar Hammo, injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via IC AFrin resistance)
  • Omar Hammo, injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via IC AFrin resistance)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin (جيلمية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.356111, 36.769722. 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–10
  • 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

TS229

Incident date

February 26, 2018

Location

يلنقوز, Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians including children died and a minimum of three other civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish air strike on Yilanguz village, according to local media. The majority of sources said that a family of five died. One source (Evlin.Hassan) reported that “dozens were killed and wounded”.

IC Arrin Resistance tweeted a video in which the voiceover in Kurdish says: “the Turkish army committed another massacre in the town Jindiresse in Afrin, yesterday night at 3-4 a.m. Turkish warplanes bombed family houses, killing five civilians and wounding three more severely.”

In a second video, “a neighbour of the civilian victims states: ‘The Turkish warplanes only target civilians. There are no military forces here. The airstrikes have to be stopped!’”

ANHA and Rumaf also put the death toll at five, with Rumaf tweeting graphic images of the bodies of child victims.

Most sources put the death toll at five, though Yikiti Media said that two had died.

Rojava tweeted a video depicting “baby Clothes, children’s boots laying in the ruins and dust of Yelangoz village after Turkeys airstrikes and massacre on the village and its people today”.

According to the SDF press office, “Turkish invasion aircraft attacked the village of Yilanguz and targeted civilian houses, which carried out a massacre of civilians and children. The Kurdish Red Crescent teams are recovering the bodies from the rubble as of the time of preparing this report.”

Some other sources said that Turkey conducted artillery strikes on the village.

According to Evlin.Hassan, the death toll may have been even higher: it reported that there were “dozens of civilians killed and wounded.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 12
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–12
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (10) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via SDF)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Evlin.Hassan)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the remains of civilian casualties, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Rojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Footage showing the remains of civilian casualties, killed in alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Rojava)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Anha)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, 26th February 2018. (via Anha)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin (يلنقوز), 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
    2 – 12
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–12
  • 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 (22) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS228

Incident date

February 25, 2018

Location

حج خليل, Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.678611, 36.683611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian male was wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Haj Khalil, local media said.

According to Hawar News, “an elderly man has critically been wounded in Haj Khalil village in Rajo area due to the Turkish occupation army’s artillery bombing on the village.

Sources added that the victim was transferred to Afrin hospital for treatment.

Rumaf reported that he had suffered “burns in the face, hands and thighs” and was in “a dangerous condition”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shukri Hajika
60 years old from the village of Haj Khalil injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man with his face burnt following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 25th February 2018. (via Azadirojava) - PROPAGANDA
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man with his face burnt following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, 25th February 2018. (via Hawar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man with his face burnt following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district Afrin, 25th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man with his face burnt following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district Afrin, 25th February 2018. (via Rumaf)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured man with his face burnt following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Haj Khalil village, Rajo district Afrin, 25th February 2018. (via Rumaf)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin (حج خليل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.678611, 36.683611. 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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]