Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident Code

TS596

Incident date

May 18, 2023

Location

الخاروفية, Al Kharofiya, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.409744, 37.900613 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly man was killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Al-Kharofiya village on May 18, 2023.

A local source told a North Press Agency correspondent that a civilian was killed when a vehicle close to him on the road was struck by a drone. The source also provided the name of the civilian killed: Abd al-Wahhab al-Muhammad al-Haj Hamidi (70 years old) from Al-Kharofiya village.

The Syrian Democratic Forces Press Center published a statement with similar details, adding that the drone strike on a civilian car occurred at exactly 6:30pm and despite medical intervention, Abd died from his injuries. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that the Turkish drone executed two strikes on a military car of the woman’s protection units, and the civilian was injured (and later died of his injuries) by shrapnel when he was trying to help those injured in the vehicle. The earlier strike left two military members injured, according to SOHR.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drone strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured at 18:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Wahhab al-Muhammad al-Haj Hamidi عبد الوهاب المحمد الحج حميدي
70 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Car struck by alleged Turkish drones on May 18, 2023. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Kharofiya (الخاروفية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.409744, 37.900613. 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
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS597

Incident date

May 28, 2023

Location

عفرين ، رأس العين ، اعزاز ، تل أبيض ، الباب ، جرابلس, Afrin, Ras Al Ain, Azaz, Tell Abyad, Al Bab, Jarablus, various regions, Syria

Geolocation

36.512278, 36.865389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.848621, 40.072403 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.586827, 37.048090 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.691939, 38.951152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map 36.372135, 37.516151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.818970, 38.007554 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and between 20 to 25 civilians, including two women and four children, were injured by alleged Turkish-back faction heavy gunfire around Afrin on May 28, 2023.

Hawar News initially reported that a child was killed and “a number of people, including women” were injured by gunfire from Turkish militia members while celebrating the re-election of Turkish president Erdogan. Hawar then updated their information to 25 injuries, including women and children, in Afrin district and then went on to specify that two people were injured near Al-Thura bakery, a woman was injured in Sajo camp in Azaz, and others were injured in the city of Sere Kaniye.

North Press Agency initially reported that three people were injured, specifically in Mahmudiyah camp in Afrin, but then revised their numbers to 20 people total wounded by stray bullets, including four children and two women. The source then clarified where the injuries occurred: “seven wounded in Afrin and its countryside north of Aleppo, four in Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in the countryside of Hasakah, three each in the city of Azaz north of Aleppo and the city of Tel Abyad In the northern countryside of Raqqa, two in the city of al-Bab east of Aleppo, and one was wounded in Jarablus.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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]

  • Civilians injured by alleged Turkish gunfire in Afrin district on May 28, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the cities of Afrin (عفرين), Ras Al Ain (رَأْس ٱلْعَيْن), Azaz (أَعْزَاز), Tell Abyad (تَلّ أَبْيَض), Al Bab (الْبَاب), and Jarablus (جَرَابُلُس). The generic coordinates for Afrin are: 36.512278, 36.865389. The generic coordinates for Ras Al Ain are: 36.848621, 40.072403. The generic coordinates for Azaz are: 36.586827, 37.048090. The generic coordinates for Tell Abyad are: 36.691939, 38.951152. The generic coordinates for Al Bab are: 36.372135, 37.516151. The generic coordinates for Jarablus are: 36.818970, 38.007554. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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

TS598

Incident date

June 3, 2023

Location

الاصيلم, Al Asilem, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.401518, 39.190418 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians, including a woman, were injured by an alleged Turkish drone attack on farmland in Al Asilem village, near the M4 road and north of Raqqa on June 3, 2023.

Hawar News reported that a 35 year old woman named Houriya Ayed Al-Daher and her 45 year old husband named Hussein Hammoud Al-Muhammad were injured in the attack when working on farmland and taken to hospital to receive treatment. Additional local sources provided similar casualty information, attributing the drone strikes to Turkish drones, with multiple sources referring to “explosive-laden drones.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Hussein Hammoud Al-Muhammad
45 years old male injured
Houriya Ayed Al-Daher
35 years old female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Hussein Hammoud Al-Muhammad, 45 years old, injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on June 3, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Asilem (الاصيلم), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.401518, 39.190418. 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 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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS599

Incident date

June 12, 2023

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.889115, 38.350168 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 3 civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish drone strike killed two Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters by a petrol station near the southern entrance of Kobani at 11:55am on June 12, 2023.

The North Press quoted a medical source at the al-Amal Hospital in Kobani city who reported that 22 year old male Alaa Abdurrazaq Ibrahim had their hand amputated while sustaining injuries to their liver and kidneys, 28 year old male Khabat Adham had their legs and a hand amputated, and 25 year old male Muhammad Bahjat Ayoub fractured their jaw and as of last reporting was receiving surgery for an injury to their main artery by their jaw. The medical source emphasized that all three of the men were seriously injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a total of five civilians were injured by the drone strike.

The two SDF fighters were reported to have been travelling on a motorcycle on the Kobani-Aleppo road when the strike occurred. Images shared by SOHR detail extensive damage to the motorcycle which was damaged to near unrecognition. At this time, no military has claimed the attack while all of the local sources attributed the strike to Turkish drones.

Both Hawar News and ANF identified the location of the strike as occurring on the Aleppo road at the southern entrance to Kobani, with SOHR specifying a gas station as the location.

The incident occured at 11:55:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Khabat Adham
28 years old male injured
Alaa Abdurrazaq Ibrahim
22 years old male injured
Muhammad Bahjat Ayoub
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
    3–5
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A motorcycle destroyed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Kobani on June 12, 2023. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • A Turkish drone bombed at 11:55 a.m. today, Monday; A motorcycle on the Aleppo road at the southern entrance to the city of Kobani.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.889115, 38.350168. 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
    3–5
  • 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
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS600

Incident date

June 12, 2023

Location

A road linking the villages of Herbel with Um Hawsh, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.417702, 37.198600 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One Russian soldier was killed and between three and four other Russian soldiers were injured in an attack on an armoured military personnel carrier allegedly carried out by Turkish forces. The vehicle was moving along a road that connects Herbel and Um Hawsh.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the injured Russians were transported to Afrin hospital and then transferred to another medical facility, though the nature of their injuries are currently unknown; while the Kurdish North Press Agency (NPA) report that 3 were injured in the attack, others such as the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported 4 injured. Images of the vehicle’s remains published by Basenews and NPA display the armoured vehicle with ‘MP’ written on the front laid on its side with extensive damage particularly to the front of the vehicle.

Sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish drones.

The incident occured in the morning.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3–4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Damaged Russian military vehicle caused by alleged Turkish strikes in Aleppo governorate on June 12, 2023. (Image posted by Basnews)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the road linking Herbel (حربل) and Um Hawsh (أم حوش). Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed the location down to the following exact coordinates: 36.417702, 37.198600.

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
    No
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    Russian Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    3–4

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS601

Incident date

June 14, 2023

Location

عرب حسن, Arab Hasan, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.649510, 37.848615 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A civilian was killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Arab Hasan village on June 14, 2023.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a person was killed by a Turkish drone strike on a house in Arab Hasan village.

Both @RojAvaTv1 and @NES_RIC_Arabic refer to the person killed as being a civilian. Orient News provided the name of the victim as Abdullah al-Hamada and reported that he was killed while digging tunnels with the SDF. Rasd News added that Abdullah was from the village of Shweha Khaznawi in the countryside of Manbij.

All of the sources that reported on the incident blamed the strikes on a Turkish drone.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah al-Hamada عبد الله الحماده
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • Funeral for victims of Turkish strikes on Manbij on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by Sheikh Farouk Al-Mashi, the private media office via Facebook)
  • Funeral for victims of Turkish strikes on Manbij on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by Sheikh Farouk Al-Mashi, the private media office via Facebook)
  • Funeral for victims of Turkish strikes on Manbij on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by Sheikh Farouk Al-Mashi, the private media office via Facebook)
  • Funeral for victims of Turkish strikes on Manbij on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by Sheikh Farouk Al-Mashi, the private media office via Facebook)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Arab Hasan (عرب حسن), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.649510, 37.848615. 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
  • (1 man)
  • 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 (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS603

Incident date

June 14, 2023

Location

village of Shourik, Al Hassaka, Syria

Airwars assessment

Four civilians were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Shourik on June 14, 2023.

North Press Agency reported that a Turkish drone carried out a strike near a cement factory in the village of Shourik resulting in casualties. A medical source told North Press that an injured man named Ahmad Saleh Abdullah was brought to al-Salam Hospital in Qamishli city for treatment and that his health condition was stable. The victim is described as an IDP from the city of Aleppo who lives in the town of al-Qahtaniyeh (Tirbe Spiye).

According to Hawar News, four civilians were injured by Turkish strikes on the Qamishlo-Tirbespiyê road, which caused damage to a number of passing cars on the road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights refer to the “targeted” vehicle as a military vehicle, but did not specify whether those affected were civilians or militants.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmad Saleh Abdullah
Age unknown male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • A vehicle destroyed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Shourik on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • A vehicle destroyed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Shourik on June 14, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • 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 (6) [ 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]