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

TS665

Incident date

December 5, 2023

Location

حربل, village of Harbel in the Al-Shahba area, northern countryside of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday, December 5, 2023, a Kurdish civilian man was seriously wounded while driving his car by an alleged drone strike by the Turkish military on the village of Harbel in the Al-Shahba area, in the northern countryside of Aleppo, Syria. According to the local sources, the attack was perpetrated with a “suicide drone”.

According to the Facebook account “Human Rights Afrin”, a 38-year old man named Azad Khalil Hamada sustained injuries to his leg, and his car was damaged. It was reported that Azad belonged to the forcibly displaced people of Afrin. He appeared in an image shared by this account as a middle-aged bearded man in a brown pullover and jeans. A picture of his damaged white “Kia” auto was also posted.

Afrin Muhajar Facebook user also shared an image of Azad lying on the hospital bed with his arm in a cast, so likely his arm was also injured.

Where the sources identified the belligerent, all the sources attributed the strike to the Turkish military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Azad Khalil Hamada آزاد خليل حمادة
38 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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Source: Human Rights Afrin Facebook
  • Source: Human Rights Afrin Facebook
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Afrin Muhajar facebook

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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS132

Incident date

January 27, 2018

Location

Unknown, Syria

Airwars assessment

Free Afrin published a picture of a dead man, reporting that “this image is the result of the bombing of the Turkish occupation”.

However, an image search showed this photo was first published on the Syrian Media Organisation on a November Facebook post [archived] on November 27th 2017. Airwars has therefore discounted the event as propaganda.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A propaganda image published by Free Afrin.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Discounted
    Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS227

Incident date

February 24, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish activist Claudia reported that a civilian on a motorbike was killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike in Afrin, Syria. The tweet said that “he was bringing some household items (a cylinder of gas and some food) to his family but the brutality of the invaders prevented his arrival to his family”.

Afrin Now also reported the death. According to the source, “a series of violations by the Turkish army against civilians continued in the area of Afrin. The Turkish aircraft targeted a citizen who was traveling on his motorcycle between the villages of Haj and Sanaa, resulting in his death and the burning of the body completely. As a result of the burns, the identity of the body has not yet been identified.”

The death was also reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

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

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Translation: The brutality of the Turkish occupation A civilian was killed on the road between the villages of Haj al-Hasanah and Sannara between the two areas of Shih Jandrisa. He was targeted by the Turkish invasion plane. His body appeared to be on his bicycle beside the road, apparently bringing some household items to his family as a gas cylinder and some food.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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
  • 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

TS259

Incident date

March 9, 2018

Location

ترميشا, عفرين, Termisha, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.518611, 36.632222 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died, and another was injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Termisha, Syria, according to local media.

IC Afrin reported that a 55-years-old civilian was hit and killed by a warplane yesterday night in the village of Çomezna (Mabata district).

According to Hawar, another man was wounded. It named him as 48-year-old Mohammed Omar Hamkulino of the village of Astir. He was transferred to hospital where his condition was said to be stable.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Necib Şexo Ibrahim
55 years old male killed
Mohammed Omar Hamkulino
48 years old male injured

Summary

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

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A picture shows the victim (Necib Şexo Ibrahim) lying on the floor at the medical centre. The victim was killed followed an alleged Turkish airstrike on Termisha, Afrin 9th March 2018. (Source: IC Afrin )
  • The exact moment an alleged Turlkish bomb was dropped on Termisha, Afrin 9th March 2018. (via Rojava)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A video shows the dead civilian and other injured followed an alleged Turkish airstrike Termisha, Afrin 9th March 2018. (via: Afrin news)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Mihemde Omer Hemkolîno, injured in an alleged Turkish raid on Termisha, Afrin 9th March 2018. (via NAF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Termisha, Afrin (ترميشا, عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.518611, 36.632222. 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
    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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS122

Incident date

January 24, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

According to Rok online, “a father found his two children who were wounded days after they were displaced from the western town of Jenderes, west of Syria. Their convoy was targeted by the Turkish army and its Islamic militia.

Ahmed Khallouf, a father of four children from Jandiers district, who fled to Afrin, said the Turkish artillery targeted their convoy as they attempted to exit on January 24, causing his son and daughter to be hit by shrapnel in the foot. He also lost the mother of his wife”. It is not clear whether the woman was killed or literally ‘lost’.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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]

  • The Khalouf family caught up in alleged Turkish shelling on Jindires, Afrin, 24th January 2018. (via Afrin- rok)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town 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
    0 – 1
  • (0–1 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS249

Incident date

March 6, 2018

Location

جنديرس,عفرين , Jindires, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

One civilian – a nurse or doctor – died and three more were wounded in an alleged Turkish bombing of Jindires, according to IC Afrin Resistance.

Afrin Now reported “the martyrdom of the nurse working at Afrin hospital, Shyar Haji Abdo, while trying to rescue civilians in Jandairis region as a result of the continuous bombing of Turkish military aircraft”.

The victim was also named by ANHA, IC Afrin Resistance and Rok Online.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Shyar Haji Abdo
Adult male killed

Summary

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

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Chaiar Haji Abdo, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, 6th March 2018. (via Iuvmonline)
  • Chaiar Haji Abdo, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, 6th March 2018. (via Efrinerenge2)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Jindires, Aleppo (جنديرس,عفرين ), 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
    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 (13) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS090

Incident date

August 21, 2017

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Ref’at, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.473056, 37.094444 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian died and four more were wounded in alleged Turkish shelling of the town of Tal Ref’at, according to local media – though one report also said that the Syrian Free Army also targeted Kurdish units in the town.

Rumaf named Alia Omar Sheikh and Othman Zakaria Mustafa as killed. However, a later report by Rumaf said that Othman Zakaria Mustafa was a member of “the Asayish forces”, the Kurdish security forces. It published images showing the funeral procession.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “Turkish forces shelled areas in Tal Rifat town in the northern countryside of Aleppo, which is controlled by the Syria Democratic Forces. This resulted in the injury of four people”.

SDF press also pointed towards Turkey, reporting that “the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries stationed in the towns of Mara and Kalgberin shelled the Tel Rifaat area with shells and heavy weapons. The shelling resulted in injuries among civilians, who were taken to a hospital.”

However, Ahmad al Farouh, pro-revolution activist from Mare’e, Aleppo, said that the Syrian Free Army targeted Kurdish units in the town with “artillery and mortars” – but made no mention of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Alia Omar Sheikh
Adult female killed
Othman Zakaria Mustafa
Adult male combatant killed
Depo Mohammed Champion
Age unknown injured
Abdul Basit Ali Sakran
Age unknown injured
Abdo Sukran
Age unknown injured
Mohammed Hassan Dibo
Age unknown injured
Mahmoud Hassan Dibo
Age unknown injured
Ghazi Rahal (refugee in the city of Tel Rifaat)
Age unknown injured
Louay Aboush (refugee)
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (9) [ collapse]

  • An injured man recives medical treatment following an alleged Turkish or FSA airstrike. (via SDF)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish or FSA airstrike. (via SDF)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)
  • Funeral procession of the victim. (via Rumaf)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Ref’at ( تل رفعت), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.473056, 37.094444. 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

Free Syrian Army Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Free Syrian Army
  • Free Syrian Army position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Free Syrian Army

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS196

Incident date

February 13, 2018

Location

قرية بيكه، عفرين, Shara, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.6175, 36.936944 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One man has been killed, and two have wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Shara.

The Kurdish Red Crescent identified the victims by names and ages.

The weapon used has not been reported.

No additional details are presently known.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Adnan Ibrahim
50 years old male via the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Ali Ju’ma Qasim
58 years old male via the Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Abdullah Mohammed Ma’mo
55 years old male via the Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 town of Shara, Aleppo (قرية بيكه، عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6175, 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]