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

TS095

Incident date

January 20, 2018

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511389, 36.864167 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to six civilians were reported killed and possibly dozens more wounded in alleged air and artillery strikes by Turkish-backed troops on YPG forces in Afrin, according to local media on the ground.

Al Jazeera reported that “Turkish artillery shelled the positions of the Kurdish People’s Protection and Protection Units in several areas of Afrin. No casualties were reported, according to news agencies close to the Kurdish protection units.”

However, other sources reported civilian casualties. According to Afrin Now, six civilians died in addition to “a fighter from the Popular Protection Units and two from the women’s protection units”. It added that seven further non-combatants were wounded.

Al Arabiya also put the death count at six, though RuMafpage was among some other sources saying that three non-combatants died.

Neveen al Dalati named one victim as Yahya Hamada, seven years-old (aged 9 according to the Red Crescent), a refugee from Idlib. Anha News also named him, but put him at nine-years-old.

According to Afrin Anha, a pro-Kurdish source, “Turkish aircraft bombarded the region of Afrin with dozens of missiles and dozens wounded in the ranks of civilians”. It published an image of a badly wounded child, covered with blood, with the caption “Is this child a terrorist, Erdogan you dog!”

Additionally, the source named the injured civilians [listed below]. It went on to add that “the child Botan Mustapha, who suffers from diabetes, suffered a deteriorating psychological condition which has impacted his health” and that “according to the nursing staff at Afrin Hospital all the civilians are in a precarious condition after being seriously injured in different parts of the body, especially the children Yahia Hamada and Khaled Hamada.”

However, the Shaam News Network claimed that the images published by Afrin Anha and “media sites close to SDF forces in the Afrin area” were not from this incident but “dated to the bombing of the Assad forces in Aleppo in 2016. The pictures were inside Al Quds hospital in the neighborhood of al Sukkari [in Aleppo] at the time.”

Further research by Airwars revealed that the graphic image of the wounded child, which Free Afrin also claimed was from this event, was in fact published by the website stj-sy.com and referred to an casualty incident in Atarib, Aleppo in November 2017.

By way of explanation, Shaam added that “the official media and media allied to the SDF forces is playing on the civilian card to highlight Turkish aircraft and artillery targeting civilian areas. The purpose is to mobilize local and global public opinion for the SDF forces with the start of the military operation in the area Afrin”.

The source Free Anha published a number of pictures of “civilians” being treated in a medical facility. However, caution is also required with these images: the Turkish website Sanalbasin claimed that the people depicted were not civilians but were Kurdish fighters.

Al Bab Coordination committee published a list of the “targets bombed and destroyed by Turkish air force”:

‘Brigade 137

Headquarters of Meng airport

Malikiya checkpoint

Maranaz checkpoint

Shuraga checkpoint

Al Qadi farm HQ

Mount Barsaya

Qibar Artillery positions

Headquarters in the vicinity of Tel Rifaat

Headquarters in the vicinity of Afrin

Ain Dukna headquarters

Headquarters and fighters in the area of Bulbul’

It added that “The Turkish army’s operations room announced that the air force had carried out 112 air raids on positions of the terrorist militias in Afrin and its environs on 2018/1/20”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Yahia Hamada
9 years old male listed as killed elsewhere injured
Khalid Hamada
years old male serious stomache injury injured

The victims were named as:

Yahya Hamada
9 years old male named by the Red Cross killed
Kenjo Kenjo
65 years old male head injury injured
Ammar Banj [or al Burj]
25 years old injured
Hamada Muhamed Al Ali
30 years old male injured
Fahd al Ahmad
39 years old injured
Ibrahim Khalil
45 years old male shrapnel in the shoulder injured
Zai’eem Osso
19 years old injured
Ahmad al Ahmad
39 years old male named as injured by the Red Cresent, injury to the leg injured
Sabri Muhammad Muhammad
54 years old named as injured by the Red Cresent, shrapnel wounds injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (23) [ collapse]

  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • Wounded civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike which targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike which targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Wounded civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike which targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • Wounded civilians in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike which targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin now facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Shiro_Alo)
  • frin - Yahya Hamadeh, a refugee from Idlib, who was killed in the province of Afrin at the age of 9, after being injured by the alleged bombing of the Turkish military air force on the territory of Afrin. (via Anha)
  • frin - Yahya Hamadeh, a refugee from Idlib, who was killed in the province of Afrin at the age of 9, after being injured by the alleged bombing of the Turkish military air force on the territory of Afrin. (via Anha)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    frin - Yahya Hamadeh, a refugee from Idlib, who was killed in the province of Afrin at the age of 9, after being injured by the alleged bombing of the Turkish military air force on the territory of Afrin. (via Anha)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha facebook)
  • The moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha facebook)
  • Buildings on fire due to an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A seriously injured child recives medical treatment due to an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Afrin Anha facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. Posted at 2.51pm. (via Free Anha facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. Posted at 2.51pm. (via Free Anha facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Free Afrin facebook)
  • The exact moment an alleged Turkish airstrike targeted Afrin, 20th January 2018. (via Al bab coordination committee)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Afrin (عفرين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511389, 36.864167. 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 – 6
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    9–24
  • 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 (29) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS076

Incident date

January 7, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Six civilians were reported killed and 16 more injured because of Turkish shelling of Al Bab, Syria, according to a single source.

Syria News Desk wrote: “Six civilians were killed and 16 others wounded last night after Turkish artillery targeted residential areas near the Al Manshiya roundabout in the city centre of Al Bab in coordination with opposition factions and a Turkish army attack on the western neighbourhoods.”

Noon Post also reported artillery shelling in Al Bab but did not mention civilian harm.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (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
    6
  • Civilians reported injured
    16
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS343 TS005C

Incident date

October 18, 2016

Location

حساجك, Hassadjek, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3960003, 37.2467422 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 6 people were killed by airstrikes in the vicinity of Hassadjek village in Aleppo, though the circumstances were unclear.

Initially, Voice of Kurdistan blamed the US-led Coalition for a strike occurring around 3am, which it said left six people dead and four wounded.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russian and Syrian government aircraft were not operating in the vicinity, but in a statement claimed that “Aircraft of the international coalition were performing tasks near Hassajek village at night on October 18. Air situation control systems have detected two F-16 of the Air Force of the Kingdom of Belgium at the specified time and area.” This report was quickly picked up by the Russian press, including RT.

The accusation led to a spat with Belgian authorities, who denied that their planes were involved or were nearby. In a tweet, the country’s Minister of Defense called Moscow’s assertion “Russian disinformation.” The Minister also denied the Russian account to the Belgian parliament. A spokeswoman for the Belgian ministry additionally told Airwars that “we did not fly there yesterday, nor the days before.”

A spokesperson for the Coalition told Airwars that “Contrary to what Russian media reported, there is no evidence of this incident, nor were any Belgian aircraft conducing kinetic operations at the time.”

The incident became further confused after Turkey announced it had carried out strikes on Kurdish militants in numerous locations north of Aleppo on the night of October 19th-20th. As the Syrian Observatory noted regarding the Hassadjek strikes, at the time “factions supported by Turkish warplanes and tanks,” as well as the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and ISIL were all present and engaged in the area. Other local outlets, including Smart News and Izaz Media Center reported that the Syrian Democratic Forces had gained control of Hassadjek.

Among the strikes carried out on the 19th-20th, Bellingcat was able to geolocate one “very close to the village of Hassadjek,” which it noted was “the location where Russia accused Belgium of killing six civilians” on the morning of the 18th.

On October 21st, Russia called for Belgium to set up an investigation into the incident.

In their May 2020 civilian casualty report, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area at that time.

The incident occured at approximately 3:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Translation: Belgium is not involved in civilian deaths Aleppo. Russian disinformation. (via Steven Vandeput - Belgium Defence Minister)
  • Analysis by Bellingcat geolocated a number of Turkish airstrikes within the vicinity of Hassadjek for the date in question.

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Hassadjek (حساجك), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3960003, 37.2467422. 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
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA427292
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 1, 2020

  • Oct. 18, 2016, in Hassadjek, Syria via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 3069/CS343 37SCA427292

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For October 17th-18th the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, four strikes engaged four ISIL tactical units and destroyed two fighting positions and a vehicle.” For October 18th-19th the Coalition reported “Near Mar’a, one strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit.” In a statement to Airwars, the Coalition said that “there were no Belgian aircraft conducting strike operations at the time.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6
  • 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

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS111

Incident date

January 23, 2018

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Up to seven civilians were killed and 49 named people were wounded in the reported Turkish bombing of Jindires in Afrin, according to local sources on the ground.

Airwars was initially alerted to the casualty incident by the Afrin Now Facebook page, which detailed the reported casualties and some injured. 

On its Facebook page, the source publicly stated that “the Turkish army has stepped up its brutality towards our peaceful people in Afrin, using all kinds of weapons in indiscriminate bombardment of our villages and towns.

This brutal bombardment of the town of Jindires led to the destruction of civilian homes in addition to civilian casualties, including children and women.

The initial toll we have confirmed so far is the deaths of four civilians, including two children, with more than 10 wounded.”

Manbij Military Council published a statement and graphic photos by the SDF Media Office. It confirmed the civilian toll given by Afreen Now.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, also blaming Turkey, put the death toll at four including two children and two women – one of them reportedly an elderly woman.

The Facebook page ‘Al Bab and its suburbs’ published “pictures showing the effects of the Turkish bombardment with heavy weapons”.

According to the source RuMaf, “for the second day in a row, several villages and areas in Afrin were bombed targeting the headquarters of SDF forces in addition to indiscriminate targeting of residential areas, which resulted in a large number of civilian casualties among the dead and wounded”.

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

The victims were named as:

Almas Sheikho Horo
50 years old female named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
Jeger Khwen
15 years old male named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
Fatima Bakr Bakr
58 years old female named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
Sawsan Jamil Rashid
Adult female named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
An unidentified child
14 years old named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
An unidentified woman
Age unknown female named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
An unidentified young man
19 years old male named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars killed
Hussain Hussein Mohammed
59 years old injury to jaw, eye and shoulder, named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars injured
Basma Ma’zo
33 years old injury to the legs, named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars injured
Mohammed Rashid Hassan
45 years old male injury to the legs and pelvis, named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars injured
Mustafa Abu Jammu
12 years old injury to the femoral artery , named directly by Afrin Now to Airwars injured
Suzan Sobhi Suleiman
11 years old female head injury and wounds with shrapnel injured
Mohammed Ali Suleiman
9 years old injured in the foot with shrapnel injured
Ahmed Sabri Canadian
45 years old male injuries to the back injured
Mohammed Suleiman Aliko
65 years old male wounds to the scalp injured
Hassan Hassou
52 years old male injuries to the face and jaw injured
Areen Hassan
33 years old injuries to the scalp injured
Amina Khalil
50 years old shrapnel in the left leg, with a facial injury injured
Moustafa Khallouf
14 years old male shrapnel in the legs injured
Asia Khallouf
15 years old shrapnel in the face and legs injured
Mohammed Abdul Karim Ali
22 years old male shrapnel in the scalp injured
Zainab Yousef
55 years old female shrapnel in the head injured
Aya Kedro
15 years old injury to right knee and shrapnel in the leg injured
Aya Nbo
7 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Ahmad Sabry Kind
45 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Aras Hiske
42 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Rezan
20 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Artesh
24 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Abdulkarem Ali
22 years old male named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Hasan Hussen Muhamad
59 years old male named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Muhammad Rashed Hasan
40 years old male named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Chekdar Afren
26 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
AbdulRahman Hassan
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Roni
19 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Ramadan Muhammad
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mahmud Kurdi
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Sherwan Muhammad
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Amen Rezan
10 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Joni Rezan
11 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mustafa Muhammad Khalof
12 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Basema Muhamad Bajo
32 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Nazera Haj Mahmud
50 years old named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mahmod
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Abdal Setar Amer
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Saher Mamo
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Ali Al Sshekh
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Bilend
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Rashed Nasan
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Azad Ali
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mahmud Musa
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Chakdar Rohilat
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Aziz Arab
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Redwan Habash
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Hamed Batal
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Yousif Abdulrahman
Age unknown named by the The Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    5 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    49
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (33) [ collapse]

  • Fatima Bakr Bakr, 58, killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Afrin ANHA)
  • Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Afreen now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)
  • Blood covers the streets in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)
  • Blood covers the streets in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)
  • Blood covers the streets in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)
  • Possibly the remnants of the airstrike which hit Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)
  • Blood covers the streets in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Manbij military council)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A woman receives medical treatment in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Afreen now)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured civilian in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Afreen now)
  • A video showing damage to the infrastructure in Jindires, Afrin, in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike. 23rd January 2018. (via SOHR)
  • A video showing damage to the infrastructure in Jindires, Afrin, in the aftermath of the alleged Turkish airstrike. 23rd January 2018. (via SOHR)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Afreen now)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Afreen now)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Al bab and its suburbs facebook)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Smart)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Smart)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Smart)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Injured civilians are rescued in the aftermath of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Jindires, Afrin, 23rd January 2018. (via Smart)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town 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
    5 – 7
  • (2 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    49
  • 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 (23) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS104

Incident date

July 23, 2015

Location

ﺣﻠﺐ, Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.206137, 37.140688 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A reported Coalition airstrike at 3.45pm killed up to seven civilians including two children, at Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo.

One young victim, Mohammad Jassen Al Abou Rakan, was decapitated in the incident, with graphic images of his body widely distributed on social media.

Islamic State later published a propaganda video of the event, including interviews with eyewitnesses and rescuers. One man told the camera: “Civilians coming here to get bread are getting killed. What is this? Where are civilians supposed to go? Are they supposed to go to the wilderness to save themselves? Damn them.“

Another man described the buildings reportedly hit in the raid: “Today the coalition planes came to continue what the criminals from the PKK had started. More than 4 or five missiles were fired at once destroying many houses. The house of Hajj Ali and the house of the son of Hajj Ali; the house of Ali Al Hassani; the house of Mohammad Al Hajrashi; and a big number of civilian shops. All the victims are civilians that have nothing to do with what is happening at all.“

The Syrian Observatory also reported activity by Turkish aircraft in the region on this date.

In its civilian casualty report for October 2019 – published on December 5th of that year, the Coalition assessed this event as ‘not credible, asserting: “July 23, 2015, in Aleppo, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2806/CS104 37SCA328084”.

Officials published a location for the event to within 100 metres of where they had remotely assessed the incident.

The incident occured at 15:45:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Jassem Al Abou Rakan
Child male son of Jassem Al Abou Rakan killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (19) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOS. Series of tweets from Nasser al Tamimi wIth photos showing the aftermath of the strikes on Sareen in Aleppo, 24th July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Warning: EXTREMELY GRAPHIC PHOTOS. tweets from Nasser al Tamimi with a photo of a man holding the body of his headless child. Described as a man in the IS-controlled areas with his decapitated child as a result of air raids. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of a decapitated child's body tweeted by @abomuslim121212 [account now suspended]. Photo labelled in Sareen and tweeted on 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet from @nasertamimi with very graphic photos of man holding decapitated body of child allegedly as a result of aerial bombardment in IS-held areas. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Tweet from @nasertamimi with very graphic photos of man holding decapitated body of child allegedly as a result of aerial bombardment in IS-held areas. 23rd July 2015

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic photos of the body of a decapitated child in Sareen as a result of 'Saudi and Western bombardment' tweet by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    More graphic photos of the body of a decapitated child in Sareen as a result of 'Saudi and Western bombardment' tweet by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]
  • Photo of the alleged bombardment of Sareen, Aleppo. Tweeted by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photo of an injured child as a result of the alleged bombardment of Sareen, Aleppo. Tweeted by Adam the Syrian Tweets on 23rd July 2015. [Account now suspended]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]
  • Series of stills from a video broadcast by ISIL-affiliated media with a caption reading 'the crusader coalition planes target the area of Sareen causing deaths and injuries and material damage' [via: @nasertamimi on 24th July 2015]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo (ﺣﻠﺐ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.206137, 37.140688. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    in Aleppo, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SCA328084
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Dec 5, 2019

  • July 23, 2015, in Aleppo, Syria, via Airwars report. After a review of all available records it was assessed that no Coalition actions were conducted in the geographical area that corresponds to the report of civilian casualties. 2806/CS104 37SCA328084

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

No coalition strikes were publicly reported in the vicinity of Sereen between July 22-24th 2015.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Contested strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 7
  • (2 children)
  • Civilians reported injured
    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
    US-led Coalition
  • Suspected targets
    Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS035

Incident date

December 30, 2016

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.3709658, 37.5179666 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Around six or seven civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria, according to LCCSY.

It reported that “24 people were killed in Aleppo, the majority by Turkish airstrikes in Al Bab city, Russian warplanes in Tadif and a car bomb in Soran.”

Turkey Post and Deutsche Welle only said there were 17 Turkish airstrikes in Al Bab but didn’t mention civilian harm.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.3709658, 37.5179666. 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
    6 – 7
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS069 RS1872

Incident date

January 30, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between four and seven civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab.

Hara FM accused Russia of the attack: “Four people dead and three wounded from one family from Russian bombing of the village Qasr al-Bureij southeast of the city of Al Bab.”

The Syrian Network for Human Rights also blamed Russia and added that two children and a woman were among the victims.

Halab Today TV published two reports, saying the death toll was either five or seven, including four children wounded. It did not clearly blame any belligerent for the incident. As Turkey repeatedly shelled Al Bab during this period of time, Turkish involvement does not seem unlikely.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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 (1) [ collapse]

  • "5 civilians were killed and 6 others wounded by air and artillery bombardment of Bab and Tadef in the eastern suburbs of Aleppo yesterday" (via Halab Today TV)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (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

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 7
  • (2 children1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–4
  • 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

TI010

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Location

دهوك, Dohuk, Kurdistan, Iraq

Geolocation

36.865292, 42.991828 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

The Kurdistan Regional Government said that seven civilians were killed by Turkish airstrikes on Dohuk village.

Skyiraq reported: “The air strikes launched by the Turkish warplanes targeted areas in the province of Dohuk and killed seven civilians.”

The government said in a statement that while the citizens were going to do their work on their farms, the warplanes bombed those areas as they were targeting PKK positions.”

Rwa.adiona published a similar story.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    7
  • 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 Dohuk (دهوك), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.865292, 42.991828. 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
    7
  • 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]