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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Turkish Military
Country
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Incident Code

TS378A

Incident date

October 31, 2019

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.655309, 40.372388 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, four civilians including a woman were reported injured in an alleged Turkish attack on Tal Tamr in Hassakah governorate in Syria on October 31st, 2019.

No additional information about this event is presently known.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ebrahim Khaled al Khalaf
60 years old male KRC injured
Teffaha Ali al Salih
55 years old female KRC injured
Mahmoud Khalaf
38 years old male KRC injured
Ahmad Taha Mansour
40 years old male KRC injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.655309, 40.372388. 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
    4
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS418

Incident date

March 8, 2020

Location

عرب حسن, Arab Hassan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.649444, 37.847778 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A woman was reported injured in alleged Turkey forces/ pro-Turkey militants shelling of Arab Hassan in Northwest Manbej, Aleppo on March 8th, 2020, according to local sources.

@NotWoofers said the village was attacked with six mortars.

No further details are available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arab Hassan (عرب حسن) for which the generic coordinates are: 36.649444 37.847778. 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
    No
  • 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 (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS449

Incident date

October 9, 2020

Location

قرية بوراز، كوباني, Al-Boraz village, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

Two brothers, both children, were injured as a result of a Turkish or Turkey supported militants mortar shell on Boraz village in Kobani, Aleppo on October 9th, 2020 according to local sources.

The two children were identified by local sources as Muhammad Kamel aged 12, and his brother Mahmoud Kamel aged 14.

Ronahi reported that the two children were seriously injured and moved to hospital.

No further information is available at the moment.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Kamel
12 years old male injured
Mahmoud Kamel
14 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Two children were injured as a result of a shell by Turkey or pro-Turkey militants in Boraz village in Kobani, on October 9th, 2020. (via ANHA)

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
  • 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
    Unknown

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS478

Incident date

November 9, 2021

Location

الهلالية, al-Hilaliya, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.051495, 41.198363 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least three civilian men, including a 70 year old man, were killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle in the al-Hilaliya neighborhood in the city of Qamishli on November 9, 2021.

The North Press Agency reported that three people were killed in a Turkish drone strike in the al-Hilaliya neighborhood in the city of Qamishli. Furat News Agency referred to the three people killed as being civilians.

According to the sources of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the person who was targeted in the explosion is a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ leadership’s advisory, but he was not in the targeted car at the time of the strikes. Instead, the explosion resulted in the death of his grandfather, his brother and a third of their relatives. At the time of reporting, they believed that the explosion could’ve been caused by a Turkish drone or an explosive device planted in the car.

Rudaw News also reported that the vehicle that was destroyed was an armored vehicle that belonged to the SDF and that the strike killed his brother Mazloum Gilo, and two of their relatives Yousef Gilo and Mohammed Gilo.

A tweet from @slmhktn refers to “PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) members” being in the car but does not specify who among the victims was a PKK member.

Images provided by local sources show a white SUV on fire in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the city of Qamishli, with residents and rescue teams trying to put out the fire. Tasrebat quoted a source that reported that ambulances transported the bodies of the victims, which were charred as a result of the fire, to the Khabat Military Hospital in the city.

Nalia Media Corporation added that the strike occurred at 3pm local time and that the drone belonged to Turkish forces.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Yousef Gilo
70 years old male
Mazloum Gilo
male
Mohammed Gilo
male

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (14) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Flames engulf a car following alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by Furat News Agency)
  • Alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by BasNews)
  • Crowds gather around a burning car, with the fires caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Crowds gather around a burning car, with the fires caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Crowds gather around a burning car, with the fires caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Flames engulf a car following alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Flames engulf a car following alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @LaqsLaqs16)
  • Victims of the drone strike and resulting fire caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @wrongname46)
  • Damage to the vehicle from the drone strike and resulting fire caused by alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in Qamishli on November 9, 2021. (Image posted by @wrongname46)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a car struck in the Al Hilaliya (الهلالية) neighbourhood of the city of Qamishli (قامشلي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 37.051495, 41.198363.

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  • Tagged visual material from sources.

    Imagery:
    @LaqsLaqs16

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (2–3 men)
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
  • 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
    0–1

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS510

Incident date

May 22, 2022

Location

المشيرفة , Al Masherfa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.41292, 39.11639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a young man, was seriously wounded by alleged Turkish drone strikes near the village of Al-Masherfa on May 22, 2022.

According to Hawar News, a Turkish drone attack injured 25 year old Reda Ali Hussein, who was transferred to Martyr Omar Alloush Hospital in Ain Issa district. The medical staff at Martyr Omar Alloush Hospital told Hawar News that Reda Ali Husseins condition is stable after he was “hit by shrapnel in several parts of his body”, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to his wounds as “serious”.

Xeber News identified the incident as occurring on the outskirts of the village of Al-Masherfa three km south of the M4 International road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the location was a Syrian Democratic Forces military post.

All of the sources that reported on this incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Reda Ali Hussein رضا علي حسين
25 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of civilian injured by a drone strike on the village of Al-Mushairfa on May 22, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Al Masherfa (المشيرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.41292, 39.11639. 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, 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

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS540

Incident date

August 8, 2022

Location

تل زيوان, Tal Zewan, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.058585, 41.355114 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian grazing sheep was injured in alleged Turkish shelling on Tel Zewan on August 8, 2022.

Hawar News reported that Turkish forces shelled the village of Tel Zewan with artillery at around 13:00, injuring one civilian who was tending to his sheep. Hawar added that on the same day, Turkish forces bombed villages in Amuda, Darbasiyah, Qamishlo, Tal Tamr, Zarkan, Ain Issa.

A Facebook post from Tigris – the Syrian island stated that one man was wounded in the artillery shelling and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that one civilian was injured.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkey, and ANF specified that two mortar shells had been fired at the village.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Ziwan (تل زيوان), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.058585, 41.355114. 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 infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS569

Incident date

November 21, 2022

Location

الحمره, Al-Hamra neighborhood in the center of Tal Tamr district, Tal Tamr, Syria

Airwars assessment

One young man, Abd al-Rahman Rashid Hassan, aged 17, was injured in a reported Turkish bombardment from a drone which hit the neighbourhood of Al-Hamra, in the centre of Tal Tamr district, Syria, on November 21st 2022.

ANHA and other local sources reported that the Turkish drone targeted a car or a military vehicle which was near a Russian forces base.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Rashid Hassan
17 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS602

Incident date

June 14, 2023

Location

الدندنية, Al Dandaniyah, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.576592, 37.762351 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 14 June 2023, two children were injured by an alleged Turkish artillery strike, followed by a drone strike, on a farm in Al-Dandaniyah village in Manbij, the western countryside east of Aleppo.

One of the children who survived the strike, Muhammad Saeed, noted that the attack ‘directly bombed their whereabouts’ according to Hawar News. Muhammad also told Hawar News that the other child that was injured is named Othman Al Abdullah.

According to a statement from the Press Office of Manbij Military Council (MMC), whilst attempting to transfer the children to a hospital for treatment, four members of the MMC were killed by a Turkish drone strike and left two other members injured.

This version of events is supported by documentation by the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and the Kurdish news outlet ANF. All of the sources attribute the strikes to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Saeed محمد سعيد
Child injured
Othman Al Abdullah
Child male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)
  • Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)
  • Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)
  • Four fighters killed while trying to help two children injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by @Ahmad_1alshble via Twitter)
  • Graphic image of a child injured by alleged Turkish shelling on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by SDF Press Office)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Dandaniyah (الدندنية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.576592, 37.762351. 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, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Agriculture
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    4
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (12) [ collapse]