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

TS128

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

راجو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians died and dozens more were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes in Rajo village, according to local media.

Reports from Free Afrin said that a family was struck by a reported Turkish strike – killing one civilian and injuring two more.

While most sources initially reported the victims as belonging to an Armenian family, Afrin Now later published a correction: “Today we published a news story about the victims in an Armenian family as a result of the Turkish bombardment of Rajo. However it turned out that the family is Kurdish and only one of the Armenian family origins is Armenian. We apologise for this unintended error, and we promise that we will be more careful and accurate in spreading the news to our followers.”

Other sources put the death toll higher. According to Press 23, seven civilians died and dozens more were injured by “Turkish occupation forces”. A report by Alitihad Press said “at least nine people were wounded when a rocket and artillery shell targeted civilian houses in Rajo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rocher Kunes
Adult killed
Shamsa Kounis
57 years old injured
Hanifa Kounis
25 years old leg amputated injured
Muhammad Sedo
5 years old male named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mustafa Haj Ali
74 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Asmat Gogo
62 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo village, Afrin (راجو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. 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 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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

TS129

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported the death of one man and the injuring of six additional civilians in the vicinity of Jinderes.

According to a report shared with Airwars, six additional persons were injured – they are listed below.

According to the Smart News Agency, “The centre of the city of Jenderi cam under an artillery bombardment, which led to the deaths of civilians and wounding of more. Residents retreated to the cellars of residential buildings for fear of the shelling continuing.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nidal Ahmad
27 years old male killed
Asya Muhammad Khalof
15 years old injured
Warda Ahmad Al Shawakh
65 years old female injured
Zagros Hasan
20 years old injured
Brosk Afren
18 years old injured
Hussen Muhammad Ali
55 years old injured
Sudqi Abdul Rahman Musa
46 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 village of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

TS127

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

معبطلي, Ma'abatli village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.562634, 36.74562 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and nine civilians from one family died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma’abatli village, according to sources on the ground. The family were reportedly from the city of Idlib. Local media said that three of them remained under the rubble.

The story of the family’s death formed the basis of an article by Robert Fisk in The Independent, who said the strike took place at around 1am and hit the family home: “When Taha Mustafa al-Khatr, his wife Amina, his two daughters Zakia and Safa and son Sulieman went to bed in the tiny village of Maabatli, they placed their shoes outside the door. Most Middle Eastern families do the same. It’s a tradition and a sign of cleanliness in the home. The cheap plastic slippers were still there, of course, when the Turkish shell hit their house at one in the morning – and when I arrived a few hours later, I found the same shoes, a few blown down the stairs but most still neatly lined up next to each other. Did one of the daughters choose the slippers with the plastic bows? Even the rescue workers – such as they are in the Kurdish province of Afrin – didn’t touch the shoes. They left one of the blood-soaked bedspreads where it was in the rain under the collapsed roof of the cheap breeze-block house. The bodies, of course, had gone.”

Al Jazeera put the death count at nine

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Taha Al-Khater
40 years old male reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Amina Al-Khater
40 years old female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Zakiya al Khater
15 years old female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Suleiman Al-Khater
14 years old male reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Israa Al-Khater
Adult female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Mostafa Taha Al Khater
17 years old male named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Yusra Taha Al Khater
9 years old female named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Safa Taha Al Khater
19 years old female named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties, killed as a result of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Only the feet of a civilian can be seen after being trapped under the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Arif Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Arif Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ma’abatli village, Afrin (معبطلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.562634, 36.74562. 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
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS125

Incident date

January 25, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

A second man was reported injured.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jindires, Afrin (جنديرس), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.391667, 36.693056. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS126

Incident date

January 25, 2018

Location

راحو, Rajo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that one 18 year old civilian male died in the Rajo area.

No additional details are presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shero Anor Kons
18 years old male killed

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo (راحو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

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

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS117

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

جامو, Jamo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.617500, 36.936944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on  the village of Jamo, according to some sources.

Afrin Anha reported: “The Turkish occupation continues to shell the houses of the residents of Afrin and its villages. The shelling of the village of Jama in the Shara area wounded 50-year-old Abdul Qader Hamo, who was seriously injured and taken to Afrin Hospital. Despite the intervention of the medical staff in the hospital, the citizen Abdul Qadir Hamo, died of his wounds in the abdomen.” The Syrian Observatory also reported Mr Hamo’s death.

According to Free Afrin and Rumaf, a civilian named Gilo Ibrahim also died in an alleged Turkish strike on Jamo.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Qader Hamo
50 years old male died of his wounds killed
Gilo Ibrahim
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Gilo Ibrahim, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jamo, 24th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Abdul Qadir Hamo, died of his wounds following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jamo, 24th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the subdistrict of Jamo village, Afrin (جامو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.617500, 36.936944. 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
  • 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

TS118

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

راحو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One or two civilians died and several more were injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, according to local media.

The Smart News Network reported that “a woman was wounded by a Turkish air strike on the town of Raju in the Afrin area of Aleppo, north of the country, receiving treatment in a hospital in the area on 24 January 2018. One person was killed and two were injured.”

According to Hawar, one person died and two more were wounded from the same family. They also published many images showing damage to residential homes.

Albawabh reported the death of one person and the wounding of two women, while Ciyaye put the death toll at two.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Welat Muhammad Bero
48 years old named as wounded by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (21) [ collapse]

  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • Damage to civilian homes as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A civilian casualty as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Hawar)
  • A wounded woman as a result of alleged Turkish airstrikes in Rajo village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Smart)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo village, Afrin (راحو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. 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 – 2
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS119

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

حمام, Hamam village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.369167, 36.609444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On January 25th, Free Afrin – which published a picture of the victim – reported “the martyrdom of the citizen Hussein Hasek after yesterday’s injury as a result of shelling and firing by the Turkish occupation army on the village of Hamam in the countryside of Afrin”.

However according to Rumaf “Hussein Hasek of Hamam died after trying to flee the house where he was detained with 13 civilians by the Turkish forces.”

On January 298th, Rumaf published testimony by a man who talked about his “abduction by Turkish mercenaries as they entered the village of Hammam, and how he managed to survive”:

“I am Shukri Gindi from al Hamam… the FSA came in the morning they were firing in the middle of the village from the evening till the morning going through the whole village. They opened all the doors and gathered everyone they could find. They put us in the mosque and they took away 6 detainees. I was one of the six they put us in a house. In the morning they said they’d come and see us at 1 pm. 1 o’clock came, 2 o’clock and until the evening no one came. We woke up in the morning and no one was there, there was no military personnel anywhere. Every one of us then left and went to our homes and look after our children, our goats. I was told lets go in the pick up there’s no one so we went in the pick up and we got hit with a shell from a tank. One person was killed and I was injured and another person was injured. In  the village and moved from house to house. I couldn’t move because of the injury in my leg .. we were under the shelling. Every day we would move 200 meters or 500 meters depending on the circumstances…”

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hussein Hasek
Age unknown male died as a result of his wounds killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hussein Hasek, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Hamam village, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Qamishlo)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hamam village, Afrin (حمام), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.369167, 36.609444. 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
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]