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

TS500

Incident date

April 16, 2022

Location

قرية الغازلي, Al-Ghazili village, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.310279, 39.016880 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured by alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al-Ghazili village east of Ain Issa on April 16, 2022, reported by Hawar News.

According to Hawar News, civilian “Hassan Hamad al-Salama” was wounded by Turkish artillery shelling and “two light bombs”, and significant material damage was caused to his house, car and sheep.

No other information is available to Airwars at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Hamad al-Salama
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Ghazili (الغازلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.310279, 39.016880. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS534

Incident date

July 26, 2022

Location

قرية صيدا, Seyda village, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.392991, 38.862918 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and one civilian was injured as a result of an attack on July 26th 2022 by an alleged Turkish drone strike struck Seyda village, in the Ain Isa district, Raqqa, Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the drone hit a car with a missile.

Hawar News reported that the civilians injured were Ali Khalil Omar, aged 20, and Ahmed Al-Khidir, aged 21. Al-Khidir was reported to have been critically injured and transferred to Al-Raqqa hospitals for treatment. ANHA and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights later reported that he died of the wounds that he sustained in this attack the day after.

Omar was taken to Omar Alloush Hospital in the Ain Issa district centre and his condition was reported as stable.

The correspondent for Hawar News added that the drone strike occurred “in front of the “Trad” gas station on the international road at the northern entrance to the Ain Issa district”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Khalil Omar علي خليل
20 years old male injured
Ahmed Al-Khidir أحمد الخضر
21 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Ali Khalil Omar, aged 20, was injured and Ahmed Al Khidir, aged 21, was killed after an alleged Turkish drone strike hit the Ain Issa area on July 26th 2022 (Image via ANHA English / Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the Trad Al Hamid Petrol Station (محطة طراد الحميد للمحروقات), within the village of Seyda (قرية صيدا), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.392991, 38.862918. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Seyda are: 36.401948, 38.864291.

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
    1
  • (1 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS560

Incident date

October 12, 2022

Location

شيراوا, Sherawa district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.466500, 36.887006 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.464198, 36.866351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map 36.410735, 36.862676 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to three women, including a pregnant woman, were killed and children were injured in clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and Turkish forces-associated Levant Front in the Sherawa district of Afrin on October 12, 2022.

Hawar News reported that three women, including a pregnant woman, were killed and children were injured in the clashes, specifically artillery shelling and tanks, between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front in occupied Afrin. A local source told Hawar that the casualties occurred in the villages of Burj Abdalo, Karzila and Ain Dara in Sherawa district, and that the pregnant woman named Fatima Mahmoud al-Abed that was killed was from the village of Karzila.

Al Khabour posted on Facebook that one of the women was killed by artillery shelling by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham on the village of Burj Abdalo. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also identified a woman as being killed by “indiscriminate bullets and shrapnel” but did not specify which village in Sherawa district.

A video posted by Ahmad M. Ahmad shows the moment a shell fell on the home of a civilian in the village of Karzila.

Source were conflicted as to whether the casualties were caused by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front, a Turkish proxy fighting force.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Fatima Mahmoud al-Abed
Adult female pregnant killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Rebel Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    One of the victims of clashes between Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the Levant Front in Afrin on October 12, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • What is happening since this morning in the city of Afrin and its environs is fierce battles between the armed factions affiliated with Turkey. Artillery shelling targeting the vicinity of the city of Afrin at these moments. Violent clashes in the villages of Shirawa district, extending to the outskirts of Afrin. - Violent clashes inside the village of Karzila/Krzyhel in Shirawa district. -According to a call I had with my parents inside the Jindires district, the sounds of violent clashes are heard from the south of the district, and the clashes are concentrated in the villages of Deir Ballut and Muhammadiyah. The video below shows the moment a shell fell on the house of a civilian in the village of Karzila / Karzyhel. "We wish safety to our people in the city of Afrin and its villages"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the villages of Karzila (قرزيحل), Ayn Dara (عين دارة), and Burj Abdalo (برج عبد الله). The generic coordinates for Karzila are: 36.466500, 36.887006. The generic coordinates for Ayn Dara are: 36.464198, 36.866351. The generic coordinates for Burj Abdalo are: 36.410735, 36.862676. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Rebel Forces Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Rebel Forces
  • Rebel Forces position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 3
  • (1–3 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–3
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Rebel Forces
  • Suspected target
    Al Qaeda/HTS

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS593

Incident date

May 11, 2023

Location

تل اللبن, Tel Al Laban, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.614166, 40.199445 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and four other civilians were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tal Al Laban around 10am on May 11, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a civilian was killed and four others were wounded when Turkish forces bombarded the village of Tal Al Laban. Hawar also published the names of the civilian killed: Muhammad Abdel-Fattah Hussein (38 years), and the names of the wounded: Khalis Haji Hudhaifa (35) years, Abdullah Ez al-Din Aliwi (27 years), Ibrahim Muhammad Kraff (38 years), Hafez Muhammad Kraff (27 years old). The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that the wounded sustained injuries to varying degrees and were taken to the hospital.

Zagros News added that the heavy artillery shelling also resulted in material losses to the properties and homes of civilians. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkish forces.

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Abdel-Fattah Hussein
38 years old killed
Khalis Haji Hudhaifa
35 years old injured
Abdullah Ez al-Din Aliwi
27 years old injured
Ibrahim Muhammad Kraff
38 years old injured
Hafez Muhammad Kraff
27 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilians injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tal al-Laban on May 11, 2023. (Image posted by ANF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tel Al Laban (تل اللبن), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.614166, 40.199445. 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
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS625

Incident date

August 25, 2023

Location

قرية جورين, Jurin and Na'orat Jurin villages, Hama, Syria

Geolocation

35.616504, 36.268706 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

35.638503, 36.265557 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On August 25th, 2023 at least two women were injured and a young woman and child later died due to injuries sustained in a Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) perpetrated assault on Jurin and Na’orat Jurin Villages in Northwest Hama. The woman, Taryaq Rustom and child, Maher Abbas, died four days after the attack after receiving care at Hama Hospital. Maher Abbas was described as a “wonderful child.”

Sources diverge on those wounded. Both the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and AlyaumTV stated that two women had been injured, while Sahl Al-Grab (@Sahl Al-Grab) correspondent alleged a man had also been wounded. Sources also differ slightly on what weaponry was used. Sahl Al-Ghab alleged Grad missiles had been used, which SOHR corroborates, stating that missiles and artillery shells were responsible. AlyaumTV, however, points to bombs.

Multiple sources allege that HTS was responsible for the attack. An amalgam of Sunni insurgent groups, HTS evolved out of the Nusrah Front, Al Qaeda’s former Syrian Branch. HTS operates primarily in Northwest Syria. SOHR, Sahl Al-Grab, and AlayumTV point to HTS as the perpetrator, with AlayumTV alleging the group has ties to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Taryaq Rustom
female killed
Maher Abbas
Child killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child named Maher Abbas, killed by strikes on the villages of Qalaat Mirza and the town of Jurin on August 25th, 2023. (Image posted by سهل الغاب Al Ghab plain via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the villages of Jurin (جورين) and Na’orat Jurin (ناعور جورين). The generic coordinates for Jurin are: 35.616504, 36.268706. The generic coordinates for Na’orat Jurin are: 35.638503, 36.265557. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery, Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, 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 (5) [ 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)
  • 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)
  • 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

TS298

Incident date

October 9, 2019

Location

Se Girka, Qamishli, Hasaka , Syria

Geolocation

36.844444, 41.047778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child aged six was reported injured or killed in an alleged Turkish forces artillery strike on Se Girka village in Qamishli countryside, October 9th 2019, according to local media sources.

ANF news also reported that “in the same area, the Turkish forces attacked a vehicle belonging to civilians.”

@twkiedisqueen and @RojavaNetwork said the child was killed, while other sources said they were wounded.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • (0–1 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Se Girka, Qamishli, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.844444, 41.047778. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • (0–1 children)
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS333

Incident date

October 12, 2019

Location

طريق M4 جنوب تل أبيض, M4 Highway south of Tal Abyad, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.425609, 39.017534 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported: “Members of the Turkey-loyal factions carried out a field execution of 6 new citizens by the fire of machine guns, after they took control of the highway to al-Hasakah city south of Tal Abyad for a short time, before they withdrew from it”.

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the M4 highway south of Tal Abyad (تل أبيض), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.425609, 39.017534. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

  • Reports of the incident mention the M4 highway south of Tal Abyad (تل أبيض).

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Counter-Terrorism Action (Ground)
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]