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

TS134

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

بلبلة, Bulbula, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.770899, 36.818318 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Military Council for Manbij [SDF] reported that a “Turkish aircraft targeted Bulbula this morning which resulted in the death and injury of civilians in the town”.

Kobanidil also reported that an unspecified number of civilians were killed and wounded in the attack.

Afrin Now named a 60 year old male victim, however The Kurdish Red Crescent placed his death on January 27th.

The same photos as TS133 were posted for reports regarding this incident, and Airwars are unsure as to which incident they belong. To see the photo’s please see previous incident.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmoud Mustafa Mastori
60 years old male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Bulbula, Afrin (بلبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.770899, 36.818318. 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
    2
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS135

Incident date

January 28, 2018

Location

كوبلة, Kobla village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.483495, 36.933987 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between fourteen and seventeen named civilians from one family died in alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, according to local media. A further seven or more people were injured.

Afrin Now published a very graphic video depicting “cruel scenes of the victims of the massacre of the village of Kobla in the countryside of Afrin, as a result of Turkish shelling of the village”.

According to the source Rumaf, “thirteen people from one family were killed, leaving only four people alive (the father, the eldest son and his two young daughters).

Afrin Now, also naming the above, added that there were three other victims who had not been identified.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mahmud Kano
Adult male killed
Hassan Kano
13 years old male killed
Hussein Kano
Adult male killed
Hanadi Kano
17 years old female killed
Amira Kano
17 years old female killed
Kamal Kano
7 months years old male killed
Fatima abd Rabuh
40 years old female wife of Abdullah killed
Rawan al Aswad
20 years old female from Tal A’jjar Kana, the daughter in law of Abdulla killed
Jouriya Kino
45 years old female killed
Hussein
Child male son of Abdullah killed
Ali Kano
Child male still trapped under the rubble (dead) at time of publishing killed
Mohammed Abdullah Kano
Child male killed
Sefaa Kino
7 years old female killed
Rahaf al Hussen
33 years old female killed
Abdullah Kano
50 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Mohammed Abdullah Kano
27 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Badriya Abdullah Kano
17 years old Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Mahmoud Abdullah Kano
6 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Rahaf Abdullah Kano
4 years old Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Abdullah Mohammed Kano
4 years old male Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured
Hosny Mohammed Kano
2 years old Named as wounded by Free Afrin injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    14 – 17
  • (6 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–25
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (16) [ collapse]

  • Wounded children await medical treatment in a hospital following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via ROK)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Rojava network)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via HogirNecar)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Seriously graphic footage showing random body parts and a baby with its skull half missing, following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A graphic image of a baby with its skull missing, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018 (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Members of the Kurdish Red Crescent search for civilians in the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • Aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via Kurdish Red Crescent)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Kobla village, 28th January 2018. (via SDF)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Kobla village (كوبلة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.483495, 36.933987. 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
    14 – 17
  • (6 children5 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7–25
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS130

Incident date

January 27, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that nine civilians were injured in the Jinderes area of Afrin Canton.

In a report shared with Airwars, nine injured civilians were named – listed below.

The source Rodi Sad reported that a Turkish warplane struck a mosque in Jinderes. It published images showing destruction of the building but made no mention of civilian casualties.

Efrin News also reported Turkish strikes and published pictures from the Afrin region showing “the brutal Turkish aggression on the mosque of Salah al-Din and a cemetery in the area of Jenderis”. But, again, no mention was made of civilian casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Feda Ali
22 years old female injured
Kemal Hisko
36 years old male injured
Dijwar Muhamad
21 years old male injured
Armanj Haj Muhammad
20 years old male injured
Sarhad Haj Ali
21 years old male injured
Fadakar
20 years old male injured
Rashed Nabe Kindi
80 years old male injured
Shekri Muhammad Kindi
76 years old male injured
Botan
21 years old male injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • The inside of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Rodi Sad)
  • The inside of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Rodi Sad)
  • The inside of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Efrin News)
  • The inside of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Efrin News)
  • The exterior of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Efrin News)
  • The exterior of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Efrin News)
  • The exterior of a Mosque which was targeted by alleged Turkish airstrikes on 27th January 2018. (via Efrin News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    9
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS131

Incident date

January 27, 2018

Location

راحو, Rajo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that six adult male civilians were injured in the Rajo area of Afrin Canton.

In a report shared with Airwars, six adults were named as injured.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it also “monitored the continued Turkish forces shelling in areas of Afrin countryside. The bombing focused on the areas of Balbala, Rajo and Jenders, resulting in more material damage, and a number of other wounded”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Agid Hussen Sedo
29 years old injured
Omar Muhammad
34 years old male injured
Cuma Shaban
32 years old injured
Samer Nabo
35 years old injured
Geker Derbasea
25 years old injured
Khengo Zekerya Nabo
27 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo (راحو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. 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
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 (1) [ 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

TS129

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

The Kurdish Red Crescent reported the death of one man and the injuring of six additional civilians in the vicinity of Jinderes.

According to a report shared with Airwars, six additional persons were injured – they are listed below.

According to the Smart News Agency, “The centre of the city of Jenderi cam under an artillery bombardment, which led to the deaths of civilians and wounding of more. Residents retreated to the cellars of residential buildings for fear of the shelling continuing.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nidal Ahmad
27 years old male killed
Asya Muhammad Khalof
15 years old injured
Warda Ahmad Al Shawakh
65 years old female injured
Zagros Hasan
20 years old injured
Brosk Afren
18 years old injured
Hussen Muhammad Ali
55 years old injured
Sudqi Abdul Rahman Musa
46 years old injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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 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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6
  • 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

TS127

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

معبطلي, Ma'abatli village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.562634, 36.74562 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between seven and nine civilians from one family died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma’abatli village, according to sources on the ground. The family were reportedly from the city of Idlib. Local media said that three of them remained under the rubble.

The story of the family’s death formed the basis of an article by Robert Fisk in The Independent, who said the strike took place at around 1am and hit the family home: “When Taha Mustafa al-Khatr, his wife Amina, his two daughters Zakia and Safa and son Sulieman went to bed in the tiny village of Maabatli, they placed their shoes outside the door. Most Middle Eastern families do the same. It’s a tradition and a sign of cleanliness in the home. The cheap plastic slippers were still there, of course, when the Turkish shell hit their house at one in the morning – and when I arrived a few hours later, I found the same shoes, a few blown down the stairs but most still neatly lined up next to each other. Did one of the daughters choose the slippers with the plastic bows? Even the rescue workers – such as they are in the Kurdish province of Afrin – didn’t touch the shoes. They left one of the blood-soaked bedspreads where it was in the rain under the collapsed roof of the cheap breeze-block house. The bodies, of course, had gone.”

Al Jazeera put the death count at nine

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Taha Al-Khater
40 years old male reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Amina Al-Khater
40 years old female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Zakiya al Khater
15 years old female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Suleiman Al-Khater
14 years old male reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Israa Al-Khater
Adult female reported by Free Afrin who said their “bodies arrived at the hospital” killed
Mostafa Taha Al Khater
17 years old male named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Yusra Taha Al Khater
9 years old female named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed
Safa Taha Al Khater
19 years old female named by the Kurdish Red Crescent killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    8 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via azzatBko)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties, killed as a result of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Nidal Hannan)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Only the feet of a civilian can be seen after being trapped under the rubble following an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Free Afrin)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha)
  • Civilian bodies are dragged out of the rubble in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Arif Now)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    The bodies of civilian casualties in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian home in Ma'abatli village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Arif Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ma’abatli village, Afrin (معبطلي), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.562634, 36.74562. 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 – 9
  • (4 children3 women)
  • 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 (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS128

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

راجو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians died and dozens more were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes in Rajo village, according to local media.

Reports from Free Afrin said that a family was struck by a reported Turkish strike – killing one civilian and injuring two more.

While most sources initially reported the victims as belonging to an Armenian family, Afrin Now later published a correction: “Today we published a news story about the victims in an Armenian family as a result of the Turkish bombardment of Rajo. However it turned out that the family is Kurdish and only one of the Armenian family origins is Armenian. We apologise for this unintended error, and we promise that we will be more careful and accurate in spreading the news to our followers.”

Other sources put the death toll higher. According to Press 23, seven civilians died and dozens more were injured by “Turkish occupation forces”. A report by Alitihad Press said “at least nine people were wounded when a rocket and artillery shell targeted civilian houses in Rajo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rocher Kunes
Adult killed
Shamsa Kounis
57 years old injured
Hanifa Kounis
25 years old leg amputated injured
Muhammad Sedo
5 years old male named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mustafa Haj Ali
74 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Asmat Gogo
62 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo village, Afrin (راجو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. 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 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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]