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
Country
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Incident Code

TS421

Incident date

March 23, 2020

Location

حلب, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.207421, 37.164169 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

An elderly man was reportedly severely injured in artillery shelling carried out by alleged Turkish-backed factions in the village of Um Al Hawaash on March 23rd, 2020, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The SOHR reported that “on March 23, SOHR activists said that an elderly man was seriously injured today by artillery shelling carried out by Turkish-backed factions, targeting the village of Um Al Hawaash in areas held by Kurdish forces, north of Aleppo.”

Currently, further information is unavailable to Airwars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Um al Hawaash (أم الهواش) in the countryside of Aleppo (حلب), for which the generic coordinates of the latter are: 36.207421, 37.164169.  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
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS453

Incident date

October 22, 2020

Location

صيدا‎, Sayda, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.402080, 38.863921 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian male was critically injured in alleged Turkish or Turkish mercenary artillery strikes on the M4 road near the village of Sayda, Raqqa governorate, on October 22nd, 2020, according to local sources.

Correspondents for Hawar News reported that “[Turkish] mercenaries targeted civilians on M4 road by firing shells at the road and its surroundings; consequently, a citizen named Ahmed Ali Jumaa at 30 was wounded, after which he was transferred to a hospital in the city of Raqqa, and his condition was described as critical.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported two injured civilians, describing “a rocket attack by Turkish forces targeting a checkpoint of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish), in Ain Issa area north of Raqqa, injuring two civilians who were near the checkpoint.”

According to ANF, “the artillery of the Turkish jihadist occupation troops struck in the immediate vicinity of the grain silos in Qizelî in the afternoon. The shelling on the village of Sayda, which marks the border between the occupation zone Girê Spî and Ain Issa, as well as on the center of the city and the international route M4, continues.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ahmed Ali Jumaa
30 years old male injured

Summary

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

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Ahmed Ali Jumaa was injured in alleged Turkish strikes near the M4 road near Sayda village on October 22nd, 2020 (via Hawar News).
  • Translation: "The Turkish occupation and its mercenaries renew the shelling of Ain Issa and its countryside, seriously wounding a civilian" (via Hawar News).

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Sayda (صيدا‎) located in the vicinity of the M4 highway, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.402080, 38.863921. 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
    1–2
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Unknown

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS482

Incident date

December 30, 2021

Location

زركان, Zarkan, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.846934, 40.331261 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Nearby landmark level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.776363, 40.130898 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and five civilians, including up to two women and three children, were killed and up to 12 others, including women and children, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan ( Abu Rassein) on December 30, 2021.

According to the Hawar News Agency, three civilians, Jamala Musa Al-Nahar, Jawaher Musa Al-Nahar, and the two-year-old child Allam Ali Al-Issa, were killed and five others were injured in a Turkish bombing of Zarkan. Turkey Now put the number of injured at four.

Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Jamala and Jawaher were sisters and Allam was the two year old child of Jawaher. North Press Agency identified Jamala as being an employee in the municipality of Al-Asadiya village. All were killed in artillery and missile shelling and in addition to the injury of five civilians, two members of the Syrian Democratic Forces were injured. The shelling allegedly struck a mosque in the town of Zarkan as well.

RT identified the three people killed as being “a man, a woman and a child”, adding that the strikes resulted in “the collapse of part of the Great Mosque in the town, and damage to some houses and public and private properties”. A video posted by RT also shows the moment the strikes hit the mosque.

A Facebook post from “News of the eastern region and the island” (أخبار المنطقة الشرقية والجزيرة) added the names of two others killed as: Muhammad Issa Omar’s child and baby Aladdin Nasser, in addition to the name of a civilian injured: Muhammed Khalaf.

Kurdistan24 gave a similar death toll on the low end of reports, a woman and a child killed, but added that 12 others, including women and children, were injured. Following the strikes, there was a large displacement of citizens fleeing the area on foot or on motorbikes because they feared being targeted if they used cars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Jawaher Musa Al-Nahar جواهر موسى النهار
female killed
Jamala Musa Al-Nahar جمالة موسى النهار
female killed
Allam Ali Al-Issa علام علي العيسى
2 years old killed

The victims were named as:

Muhammad Issa Omar's child
Child killed
Baby Aladdin Nasser
Child killed
Muhammed Khalaf
Age unknown injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan December 30, 2021. (Image posted by News of the eastern region and the island)
  • Damage from alleged Turkish strikes on Zarkan December 30, 2021. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention strikes on the Great Mosque (الجامع الكبير) in the town of Zarkan (زركان), and on the village of Al Asadiya (الاسدية). The generic coordinates for the mosque are: 36.846934, 40.331261. The generic coordinates for Al Asadiya are: 36.776363, 40.130898. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

{"type":"FeatureCollection","features":[{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Great Mosque \n الجامع الكبير","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.331261,36.846934]}},{"type":"Feature","properties":{"label":"Al Asadiya \n الاسدية","label-type":"black-white"},"geometry":{"type":"Point","coordinates":[40.130898,36.776363]}}]}

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
    3 – 5
  • (1–3 children1–2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–12
  • 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 injured
    2

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS514

Incident date

June 2, 2022

Location

طنب, Tanab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.49613, 37.00332 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in Tanab village, Shirawa district in the northern countryside of Afrin, Syria on June 2nd 2022 from “heavy gunfire”  and “shelling” attributed to Turkish forces and the SNA by local sources.

The civilian injured was reported to be Hassan Mustafa, aged between 12 and 13, according to different local sources.

At least ten of his sheep also died in this attack and it was reported that Mustafa was grazing the sheep at the time of attack, and that the shell exploded near him in the field.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces, and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights specified that the strikes and gunfire was carried out by “Turkish forces and their proxy stationed in Jalbal and Maryamin in northern Aleppo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hassan Mustafa
13 or 14 years old male 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • NPA Syria reports an alleged Turkish shelling on Tanab village in Afrin where one boy was reported injured whilst tending to his sheep on June 2nd 2022.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tanab (طنب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.49613, 37.00332. 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
    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]

Incident Code

TS544

Incident date

August 9, 2022

Location

عامودا, Amuda, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.09513, 40.93347 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Subdistrict level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of a village in Amuda sub-district east of Qamishli city on August 9, 2022.

Hawar News reported that Turkish bombings of multiple villages east of Qamishli city and in Amuda sub-district resulted in the injury of seven civilians, four of whom are children. Hawar also documented the name of the civilian among the total that was injured in the Amuda sub-district: Rodi Sabri. The correspondent for Hawar added that the injured civilian was taken to the district hospital.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that Turkish forces bombed 24 villages and towns in the area, including villages in the district of Amuda. Local sources reported on civilian casualties in shelling on other villages shelled on the same day.

Kurdistan Rêbaza Barzaniyê Nemir added that the shelling caused an exodus of citizens from the area, displacing hundreds, due to the mortars and heavy machine guns.

Both Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Hawar News attribute shelling in Amuda to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rodi Sabri رودي صبري
30 years old injured

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 (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians injured by alleged Turkish shelling of multiple villages east of Qamishli city and in Amuda sub-district (TS543 and TS544) on August 9, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention an unnamed village being struck, allegedly within the subdistrict of Amuda (عامودا). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for Amuda are: 37.09513, 40.93347.

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 (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS573

Incident date

November 23, 2022

Location

الزيدية, Al Zaydiyah, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.804710, 40.379030 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Al Zaydiyah on November 23, 2022.

ANF reported that two people were injured by an explosive-laden drone strike on the village of Al Zaydiyah in Darbasiyah district. ANF added that at the time there was no information on the condition of those injured.

A Facebook post by Evin Shexmous published a similar casualty toll of two civilian injured by a Turkish drone.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • 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 (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Zaydiyah (الزيدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.804710, 40.379030. 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
    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 (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS607

Incident date

July 4, 2023

Location

تديل, Tadil, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.165062, 36.887472 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On 4 July 2023, a family of four, including a mother and two girls, were killed and another civilian was injured by an artillery strike in the village of Tadil in the town of Urm al-Kubra, which is located in the countryside of Aleppo. The Syrian Observatory of Human Rights released a statement that said the family were killed as a result of artillery shelling by the Turkish-backed factions of the (Al-Fateh Al-Mubin) operations room.

According to state-run news agency, SANA, a mother, her two daughters, and their uncle were killed and the husband was wounded by the missiles. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a father, and mother, and two little girls were killed by the shelling of their home.

SANA added that the strike caused material damage to homes and property in the area which is controlled by government forces. The town of Uram al-Kubra witnessed artillery shelling between regime sources and factions of the Al-Fateh Al-Mubin Operations in the early hours of the morning. The area is a de-escalation zone subject to the ceasefire agreement of Turkey and Russia signed in March 2020.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the artillery shelling to the factions of the Al-Fateh Al Mubin Operations room, with Roz Press specifying that this is a Turkish-backed faction. A Facebook post by Vito Press specified that rocket-propelled grenades were used in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (6) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by SANA)
  • Damage caused by shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by زين برس - Zein Press)
  • Munition from shelling of Tadil village on July 4, 2023. (Image posted by زين برس - Zein Press)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Tadil (تديل), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.165062, 36.887472. 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
    4
  • (2 children1 woman1 man)
  • 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 (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS641

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Location

قرية جورين, Jurin village, Hama, Syria

Airwars assessment

On October 5, shelling by militants affiliated with Turkish forces of the town of Jurin in the western Syrian countryside near Hama killed two civilians, including a child, and injured at least one other, a woman.

One outlet, Al Ghab news, shared a photo of what appears to be the child killed in the attack, identified as seven-year-old Haidar Amer, in school, and another of him smiling. A Facebook post from Sahel Alghab also identified the man Reda Deeb Abu Muhammad as having been killed by the shelling. Reda was initially reported as injured, along with his wife, and they were taken to Al-Suqaylabiyah National Hospital, where Reda died of his wounds.

Shame FM reported that “two civilians were injured” by the shelling.

According to Facebook account Protectors of pulse and soul, the shelling also caused material damage to homes and property.

Al Muharer News and Military Correspondent attributed the missile shelling to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, while Almoharar Media Network blamed the National Front for Libration – both groups are affiliated with Turkish forces. Multiple locations claimed the shelling was in response to shelling by the Syrian regime forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Reda Deeb رضا ديب
Adult male killed
Wife of Reda Deeb
Adult female injured

The victims were named as:

Haidar Amer Jurieh حيدر عامر جورية
7 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Al Ghab News

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

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
    2
  • (1 child1 man)
  • 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
  • Suspected target
    Assad regime

Sources (16) [ collapse]