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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Incident Code

TS488

Incident date

February 2, 2022

Location

Kolya, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.85815, 40.4855 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a 30 year old woman, was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Kolya on February 2, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a 30 year old woman and a civilian were seriously injured as a result of Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Kolya in the Al Shur area.

Hawar News also reported that a woman was seriously injured in the village of Kolya, in addition to providing her name: Shirin Majul. She was taken to a hospital in Qamishlo city to receive treatment.

Athr Press gave an overview that Syrian Democratic Forces’ sites and civilians homes in the villages of Kolya, Tal Aboud, Khadrawi, and Al-Asriya were subject to Turkish shelling, which led to the injury of two civilians. However, they did not specify in which village the civilians were injured.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kolya (الكولية), allegedly located within the Tal Ash Shur (تل الشور) area of Al Hassakah (الحسكة). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tall Ash Shur are: 36.85815, 40.4855.

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
    1–2
  • 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

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS489

Incident date

February 2, 2022

Location

تل تمر, Tel Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.703333, 40.401667 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one child was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Tel Tamar on February 2, 2022.

A tweet from @me_delal, a Kurdish human right activist, reported that a child was wounded when Turkish forces shelled Tel Tamar.

Both @NPA_English and Athr Press also reported that Turkish forces shelled the village of Tel Tamar without providing any information on casualties.

No other information is available to Airwars at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tamar on February 2, 2022. (Image posted by @me_delal)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tal Tamr (تل تمر), for which the generic cooridnates are: 36.703333, 40.401667. 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
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS490

Incident date

February 2, 2022

Location

عنديور, Ain Diwar, Syria

Geolocation

37.298090, 42.199860 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were injured in Ain Diwar village, in the countryside of Derik in northeast Syria when Turkish shells hit their homes on February 2nd 2022. According to the North Press Agency, “the bombardment also resulted in the destruction of two houses, and the outbreak of fire in five houses.” The SDF announced that the bombing killed both civilians and fighters, but there were no other current local reports of civilians being killed.

They reported that those injured were Omar Amro, aged 70, and another young man who was in his thirties. However, ANHA put the number of injured at one civilian, who was taken to hospital for treatment, although they had no further details.

The Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, announced on Twitter that “the Turkish bombing of Ain Diwar and Derik has resulted in the martyrdom of civilians and fighters, but also affected public infrastructure.” He also added that “this attack amounts to a declaration of war and puts civilians at risk.”

According to Al Qamishli News, the “bombing of Ain Dewar was due to the bombing of the Turkish police station with two shells from Ain Dewar, which were fired by Kadro Harun and the member Shibli Muhammad, and they killed a Turkish eleent and then the bombing began on Ain Dewar.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Amro
70 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • 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
    0–2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • “#SOHR camera” captures bombardment by Turkish forces on civilian houses in #Ain_Diwar area in #Al_Malikiyah countryside (#Dayrik) near #Syria-#Turkey-#Iraq border triangle" (Vieddeo via Facebook / Syrian Observatory for Human Rights"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ain Diwar (عنديور), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.298090, 42.199860. 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 type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • 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
    0–2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS491

Incident date

February 9, 2022

Location

البهيرة, Bahira, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.108792, 40.862274 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two children were killed and three others were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle in the village of Bahira on February 9, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two children were killed and three others were injured when a Turkish drone struck Bahira village in Al-Hasakah countryside. In addition, “SDF members were injured in the same village by shelling on their car, while they were escaping after their first car was attacked in Kharza village.”

A Facebook post from “Eastern region and Al Jazeera news” added that the victims of the bombing were in a car close to the military jeep that was destroyed by the plane and provided the names: Muhammad Ali Kallah, 11 years old – killed; Maher Issa Kallah, 13 years old; Omar Ghanem, 40, is a teacher from the village of Bahira; Alaa Gedo Ahmed, 25 years old. Turkey Now identified the children as being students in a preparatory school.

Hawar News put the casualty count at one child killed and three others injured, all of which were traveling in the same car and were taken to the People’s Hospital in Amuda.

A security source told North-Press that “the car was targeted by two bombs, the first one did not hit it, while the second bombardment directly hit the car.”

All of the sited sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes and casualties to Turkish drones.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Muhammad Ali Kallah محمد علي كلاح
11 years old killed
Maher Issa Kallah ماهر عيسى كلاح
13 years old injured

The victims were named as:

Omar Ghanem عمر غانم
40 years old is a teacher from the village of Bahira injured
Alaa Gedo Ahmed علاء جدو أحمد
25 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of the alleged Turkish bombing of Bahira village on February 9, 2022. (Image posted by Eastern region and Al Jazeera news via Facebook)
  • One of the vehicles hit by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Bahira village on February 9, 2022. (Image posted by Athr Press)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bahira (البهيرة), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.108792, 40.862274. 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
    1 – 2
  • (1–2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported injured
    2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS492

Incident date

February 15, 2022

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.472576, 37.096272 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022.

Hawar News reported that five civilians, including women and children, were injured when Turkish forces bombed Tal Rifaat. North Press Agency put the total number of injuries at four and identified all for of those injured as children, including images of the children being treated for their injuries.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish artillery struck near the stadium in Tal Rifaat while children were inside the stadium, which resulted in the injury of four children. The source added that the shelling coincided with the entry of several Russian armored vehicles into the city.

FOX Press specified that the strikes occurred in the center of the city, causing material damage to property, and that the wounded were taken to Tal Rifaat Hospital for treatment. A local source also provided FOX Press the names of the wounded: Newroz Ali Muhammad, Ibrahim Abdo Muhammad, Ali Abdo Muhammad and four-year-old Siban Mustafa Nabi Bakr.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Newroz Ali Muhammad نيروز علي محمد
Child injured
Ibrahim Abdo Muhammad إبراهيم عبدو محمد
Child injured
Ali Abdo Muhammad علي عبدو محمد
Child injured
Siban Mustafa Nabi Bakr سيبان مصطفى نبي بكر
4 years old injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

  • Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Children injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Impact caused by alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by Moaaz_alkamil via Facebook)
  • Impact caused by alleged Turkish strikes on Tal Rifaat on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by Moaaz_alkamil via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Tal Rifaat (تل رفعت), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.472576, 37.096272. 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    4–5
  • 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

TI077

Incident date

February 15, 2022

Location

شيلادزي, Shiladze, Dohuk, Iraq

Geolocation

37.034762, 43.779316 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one man was killed in alleged Turkish strikes near the town of Shiladze in Amedi district on February 15th 2022, according to local reports.

Hawar News quoted Roj News Agency, which reported that Hussain Haider (Hussein Rikani) was killed in Turkish bombings of the villages in the Shiladze district of Başûr.

North Press Agency reported that Haider, the civilian killed in the airstrikes, was a resident of the Siri complex in Shiladze district and was married and had ten children, according to press reports. Alyaum TV add that was found in the “Neroh and Rikan area” and that he was 50 years old.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Hussain Haider (Hussein Rikani) حسين حيدر (حسين ريكاني)
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Image of Hussain Haider (Hussein Rikani), killed in airstrikes on the Shiladze district of Başûr on February 15, 2022. (Image posted by @sheladze__)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the area of Shiladze (شيلادزي), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.034762, 43.779316. 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
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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

TS493

Incident date

February 24, 2022

Location

الطريق بين القامشلي وعامودا, Road between Qamishli and Amouda, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.041217, 41.109385 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians, including three women and their driver, were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on the Qamishlo-Amouda road on February 24, 2022.

According to Hawar News, a car was struck by a Turkish drone, resulting of the injury of four people, including three women. The car was traveling on the Qamishlo-Amouda road, east of the Faruj resort, and it was coming from Amouda towards Qamishlo. The names of the wounded are: Dalia Sheikhmus (20 years); Munifa Hamidi (33 years), who was hit by shrapnel in the leg area; Rosa Hammo (38 years), who was hit in the thigh area; the driver Lazkin Abed (35 years old) who was hit in the shoulder by shrapnel.

The injured civilians were transferred to the “Farman” hospital in Qamishli for treatment, according to Enab Baladi. A medical source in the hospital told North Press Agency, “The four people sustained varying injuries and shrapnel, and their health condition is stable, after receiving first aid.” The medical source added that the driver of the targeted car has been discharged from the hospital, and two women will also be discharged after receiving treatment, but one of them needs an operation, and it was determined two days later.

The driver of the car carrying passengers, Lazkin Abed, explained the details of the attack to Hawar News: “We were in the car coming from Amuda towards the city of Qamishlo, and I had 14 passengers, and suddenly the attack happened and a strong sound was issued and the windows of the car were shattered. I did not stop in that moment. I kept [driving] until the tires of the car exploded on my way to Himo. The passengers who were sitting on the left side of the car were more affected than others, as a result of the strong attack, as shrapnel was scattered towards them.”

Rosa Hamo told North-Press, “We were on our way to Qamishli, and when we arrived at Hemo, and before reaching the city’s entrance checkpoint, I heard a strong sound and shrapnel began to fall on us, and I did not know what happened after. I was hit by shrapnel in my left shoulder and arm as well.”

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the Turkish drone intended to hit a military vehicle that was also traveling on the road.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dalia Sheikhmus داليا شيخموس
20 years old female injured
Munifa Hamidi منيفة حميدي
33 years old female injured
Rosa Hammo وروزا حمو
38 years old female injured
Lazkin Abed لازكين عابد
35 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
    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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Damage to a van carrying civilians on the Qamishlo-Amouda road caused by a Turkish drone strike on February 24, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to a van carrying civilians on the Qamishlo-Amouda road caused by a Turkish drone strike on February 24, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to a van carrying civilians on the Qamishlo-Amouda road caused by a Turkish drone strike on February 24, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage to a van carrying civilians on the Qamishlo-Amouda road caused by a Turkish drone strike on February 24, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck east of the Faruj Tourist Resort (منتجع فاروش السياحي) on the road between Amouda (عامودا) and Qamishli (قامشلو). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Faruj Tourist Resort are: 37.041217, 41.109385.

  • Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck east of the Faruj Tourist Resort (منتجع فاروش السياحي) on the road between Amouda (عامودا) and Qamishli (قامشلو).

    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
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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
    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

TS494

Incident date

February 27, 2022

Location

أم الخير, Umm Al Khair, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.654235, 40.372868 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a woman, was injured in alleged Turkish bombardment of the village of Umm Al 36.654235&lon=40.372868Khair in the countryside of Tal Tamr district on February 27, 2022.

According to Hawar News, a woman was injured as a result of Turkish forces bombing of the countryside of Tal Tamr district. Turkish forces bombed the Assyrian villages of Tel Shanan, Umm al-Khair and Dashisha in the countryside of Tal Tamr, resulting in the injury of Marwa Muhammad Khalif (30 years), from the village of Umm al-Khair. The bombing also resulted in severe material damage to the property of the people of the villages.

A medical source at the Lycrane Hospital in Tal Tamr told North-Press, “The woman was wounded by several shrapnel and was taken to a hospital in Hasaka for an urgent operation.”

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

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Marwa Muhammad Khalif مروة محمد خليف
30 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • 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
    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 Umm Al Khair (أم الخير), allegedly located west of Tal Tamr (تل تمر) town. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Tal Tamr are: 36.654235, 40.372868.

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
  • 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]