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
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Incident Code

TS056

Incident date

January 20, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between three and four civilians died and up to 13 more were wounded in alleged Turkish artillery and air strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported.

According to Al Bab News, there were “three dead and 11 injured in a continuous Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment of Al Bab”.

Syria News Desk gave more detail on the event. It said: “Four civilians were killed and 13 others injured this afternoon [Jan 20th] by Turkish artillery and air raids targeting residential areas in the city of Bab under the control of the Islamic State Organization in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.

The source who, refused to reveal his identity, told the Syria News Desk that the Turkish warplanes launched more than 15 raids on the sites of the organization around the city, including three raids, residential sites near the roundabout Manshiyet central Bab, killing four Civilians and wounding four others.

Nine civilians, five of them from a single family, were injured when three artillery shells fired by the Turkish army targeted residential buildings near the industrial zone to the southeast of Bab.

The source added that the artillery and aerial bombardment resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings in full, and a large destruction of four other houses, in addition to the burning of two cars and damage to a number of shops and other property.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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 city of Al Bab city ( الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    3 – 4
  • Civilians reported injured
    11–13
  • 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

TS055

Incident date

January 19, 2017

Location

الباب , Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died in an alleged Turkish artillery bombardment in Al Bab, according to local media.

According to Aleppo 24: “two members of the civil defence were killed and a number more wounded as a result of the Turkish aviation targeting Al Bab  on Thursday [Jan 19th]. The members of the civil defence died as they came to the aid of victims of a previous bombing”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Karim Khalil Al Sheikh Saleh
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed
Mohammad Subhi al Othman
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed
Karmo al Haj Karmo
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed
Ali al Hanan al Karmo
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • 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]

  • Heavy bombardment of Turkish artillery and warplanes on the city of # Bab and the town of Qbasin in the countryside of Aleppo. (via halhos1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (الباب ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    4
  • (4 men)
  • 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

TS054 RS1847a

Incident date

January 18, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A single source, Halab News, reported eight of the nine civilians in “Russian enemy raids” in Tadef, Syria. It also named the victims.

According to Al Jazeera, “The Russian and Turkish air forces, for the first time, carried out a joint operation against militants of the Islamic State Organization in Bab in countryside of, Aleppo, in an agreement with the Syrian regime, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.”

However, the US-led Coalition also reportedly carried out strikes on Al Bab. Shahed-ayan.co reported: “The United States-led International Alliance announced on Tuesday (January 17th) that it had launched four air raids for the first time near the city of Bab in support of the Turkish-led military operation against the Da’ash organization in northern Syria. ‘We have spotted targets near Bab al-Bab in cooperation with Turkey, and we expect to continue this type of raid,’ said coalition military spokesman Col. John Durian at a news conference in Baghdad.
‘We noticed an opportunity in which it was in our common interest to destroy those targets, which included an armored personnel carrier and tactical units of the organization,’ Durian said.”

According to Terror Monitor, “AR ISIS published photos claiming to be targeting heavy weapons in the west of the city of Bab in the countryside of Aleppo.”

Misrin Post added that the regime also carried out raids on Tadef.

However, none of these sources made any mention of civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Hassan al Zein
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Ahmad Jumaa al Zein
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Abd al Hamid Rahmo Dalati
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Hussam Mohammad Sobhi al Othman
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Wife of Mahmoud al Eido
Age unknown female named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Daughter of Mahmoud al Eido
Age unknown female named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Ahmad Wahab al Raziya
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed
Yahiya Ahmad Khalilo
Age unknown male named by Halab News reported as killed by Russian forces killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • "The military aircraft of the regime forces targeted several raids in the city of Bab in the countryside of eastern Aleppo." (via mersin_post)
  • ISIS published photos claiming to be targeting heavy weapons in the west of the city of Bab in the countryside of Aleppo. (via TerrorMonitorAR)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

Original strike reports

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Wednesday 18 January – Tornados destroyed a terrorist armed truck near Al Bab in Syria…Surveillance and strike operations have also been maintained against Daesh in Syria, and on Wednesday 18 January, Tornados conducted an armed reconnaissance patrol near Al Bab, where they used a Paveway IV to destroy an armed truck which Daesh had attempted to conceal in a vehicle shelter.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    9
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Russian Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS447 TS053

Incident date

January 17, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34857, 37.531501 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to thirteen civilians reportedly died in airstrikes at Tadef near al Bab, as heavy clashes continued with ISIL for control of the strategic city.

Step News, Al Bab News, Syria News Desk and the Syrian Observatory blamed Turkey for the attack, while LCCSY said Russia was responsible. The Syrian Network instead said that “8 civilians, including a girl and a woman, died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef city.”

However, Abdulkarim Laila (who put the death count at seven) blamed Russia – as did LCCSY.

Syria News Desk reported an eyewitness in the town as saying that “Turkish aircraft targeted homes in the main market area of the city center, explaining that most of the injured are children and the elderly, confirming the presence of 11 in serious condition. There are also three unrecognisable bodies. The source added that the raids are fully resulted in the destruction of two residential buildings and damaged a number of nearby building.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (6)

Ibrahim Hassan al Zein
male killed
Ahmad Juma’a al Zein
male killed
Mohammad Khalilo
male killed
Yahiya Ahmad Khalilo
male killed
the wife of Mahmoud Eido Al Khalaf
female killed
daughter of Mahmoud Eido Al Khalaf: Abd al Karim Al Sheikh Saleh
female killed

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Rahmo al Dalati
Age unknown male killed
Ahmad Wahab al Raziya
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military, Unknown

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tadif (تادف), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.34857, 37.531501. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For January 16th-17th the Coalition publicly noted: “Near Al Bab, two strikes destroyed a tactical vehicle and an excavator.“
For January 17th-18th it stated: “Near Al Bab, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.“

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7 – 13
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Turkish Military, Unknown

Incident Code

TS052

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Eight civilians including women, a child and a member of the civil defense died in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al Bab, according to local sources.

Al Bab 24 reported that “Hassan Ghazi al Haj, a member of the civil defense in Al Bab died from wounds sustained in Turkish raids on the city.”

According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “four civilians including a child and a woman died in a Der’ Al Furat forces- supported Turkish forces artillery shelling on Al Bab city in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Ghazi al Haj
Age unknown male named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Yahya Mohammad al Basha
Age unknown male named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Touman Hussaib family
Age unknown named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
Member of the Sawass family
Age unknown female named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed
The wife of Ahmad Salah Qassem al Khalil
Age unknown female named by Halab News askilled by Turkish artillery killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8
  • (1 child2 women2–4 men)
  • 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 city of Al Bab city (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
  • (1 child2 women2–4 men)
  • 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

TS051

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians including one child died and more were wounded – including members of the civil defense – in artillery shelling on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported – though many sources didn’t identify the culprit. A tweet by a local “Amna Alali” was the only source to attrbute blame to Turkey.

Ameer Alabad reported that three members of civil defense wounded as they went about their duties.

A another report by Al Bab 24, added that “a rocket bombardment resulted in the injury of three rescue workers – Hassan Al Haj, Firas al-Haj and Mahmoud Basha, two of them were left in a critical condition. Additionally, the father of Mahmoud Basha died in a raid while he was trying to aid his son Mahmoud Basha.”

The Shaam News Network said that five civilians died and several more were wounded in artillery shelling.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

child from the family of al Sheikh Said
10 years old named by Al Bab 24, died following raids near al Salam hospital today [Jan 14th]". killed
father of Mahmoud Basha
Adult male killed
Hassan Al Haj
Adult male injured
Firas al-Haj
Adult injured
Mahmoud Basha
Adult injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • "Rocket bombardment resulted in the injury of three rescue workers and they are , Hassan Al Haj, Firas al-Haj Mahmoud Basha, two of them in critical condition, and the death of the father of Mahmoud Basha in a raid while he was trying to aid his son Mahmoud Basha". (via AlBab24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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 – 5
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS050

Incident date

January 14, 2017

Location

بزاعة , Beza’a city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3829071, 37.56666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One woman died and one man was injured in shelling on Beza’a city, Syria, according to local media.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a woman was killed and her husband was wounded in Turkish artillery and rocket shelling on areas in Bzaah town near al-Bab city”.

Al Bab24 reported the death of “the wife of Ahmad Salah Kassem, the daughter of Mr. Haseeb” in “artillery shelling” – though it didn’t name the culprit.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

the wife of Ahmad Salah Kassem
Adult female the daughter of Mr. Haseeb killed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Facebook post naming the victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike, 13th January 2017. (via Al bab 24 facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Beza’a city (بزاعة ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3829071, 37.56666. 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

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

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

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS049

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Al Bab 24 named Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour as killed in “Turkish shelling” in Al Bab, Syria.

On January 14th, both Amna Alali and Halab Today reported the “death of 12 civilians and wounding of 18 more as a result of a Turkish air and artillery yesterday [Jan 13th] on the town of Tadef and the city of Bab in the countryside”

There are no other details avalible at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour
Adult male killed

Summary

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

  • Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab city, 13th January 2017. (via Al Bab24)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city ( الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]