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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Incident Code

TS037 RS1814

Incident date

January 1, 2017

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

Between one and 11 civilians were reported killed in alleged air and artillery shelling on Tedef. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame. According to Syrianewsdesk however, “the shelling on Tadef killed eight people, including five civilians and others belonging to the organisation (Turkish armed forces)”. Between six and ten civilians were wounded in the raid. Only two sources blamed Russian warplanes including LCCSY and Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation. Many others blamed the Syrian regime for the shelling and the rest have attributed blame to Turkey. 

Ara News gave the lowest death count: “Turkish artillery targeted residential areas in Tedef which killed a civilian and injured eight others”.

Jisr TV accused the Syrian regime of the attack, saying that “five civilians were killed and wounded in a massacre by the regime in the town of Tedef, Aleppo.”

Abass2233 posted on Twitter that “five civilians were killed and others injured as a result of artillery shelling from the Euphrates Shield forces targeting the town of Tedef in the eastern Aleppo countryside.”

LCCSY reported 11 people were killed and blamed Russia for the attack.

According to sources, wounded civilians were transported to medical facilities following the raid. Additionally, it was made clear by sources on the ground that some of the wounded were critically so.

Syrianewsdesk specified that as many as 50 shells were dropped on Tedef, with 10 of them targeting residential housing on the outskirts of the town.

The incident occured at 14:15:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Karim Kenan
Age unknown male killed
Omar Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Yousef Abdul Qadir Al - Sheikh
Age unknown male killed
Son of Ahmed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed
Son of Mohammed Yousef Hamsho
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • Report on the five civilians killed and others wounded in the town of Tadef, Aleppo due to alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raids. (via JisirTV)
  • The aftermath of an alleged alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation Documentation)
  • The aftermath of an alleged Coalition, Syrian regime and Russian airstrike in Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Kawakibi Human Rights Organisation)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    An injured victim of the alleged Turkish, Russian and Syrian regime raid on Tadef, 1st January 2017. (via Abo Alforat)

Geolocation notes

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime 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
    1 – 11
  • (5 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Turkish Military, Syrian Regime, Russian Military

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS036

Incident date

December 31, 2016

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 six and 11 civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY wrote: “11 martyrs in Aleppo most killed in Al-Bab city due to Turkish bombardment.”

Al Bab Al Hadath reported that all 11 people were killed in Al Bab: “11 killed and 28 wounded, the majority are children and women, due to Turkish warplanes shelling Al-Bab.”

An alleged ISIS propaganda Facebook page “Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu”, posted a graphic video of seriously burnt children allegedly from the shelling by Turkish planes. 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khawlah Abo Kisheh
Adult female killed
Ibtihal Abo Kisheh
Adult female killed
Sabah Abo Kisheh
Child killed
Ahmad Abo Kisheh
Child male killed
Unidentified Child
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 11
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28
  • 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 (7) [ 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 – 11
  • (3 children2 women)
  • Civilians reported injured
    28
  • 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 (7) [ 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

TS034

Incident date

December 28, 2016

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 five civilians were reported killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY reported: “By the end of the day, 16 people were killed in Aleppo, majority are by landmines by ISIS and Turkish artillery shelling in Al-Bab city.”

Smart News only mentioned Turkish airstrikes in the area in a report but no civilian casualties.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • 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
    4 – 5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (2) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS033

Incident date

December 28, 2016

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

Al Bab Al Hadath reported that Qadro Al-Jadeed and his family were killed in a Turkish airstrike “a few days ago” on December 31st.

There is currently no more information available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Qadro Al-Jadeed
Adult male

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • 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 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
    2 – 4
  • (1 man)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS032

Incident date

December 27, 2016

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 one and five civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria.

Al Bab Al Hadath said that “one person was killed due to Turkish bombardment near the big mosque in Al-Bab city.”

According to LCCSY, eight people were killed in the Aleppo area and “the majority” of them in Al Bab.

The Syrian Network for Human rights reported three civilians dead.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Talal Awad Al-Waki
Adult male named by Al Bab Hadath killed
Abdo Mahmood Al-Waki
Adult male named by Al Bab Hadath killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 5
  • (0–1 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ 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
    1 – 5
  • (0–1 women2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS031

Incident date

December 25, 2016

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 two and three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria.

Al-Bab Al-Hadath wrote on Facebook: “A woman died last night due to Turkish warplanes shelling in Al-Bab.” Halab News, however, named two dead calling them both adult males. Aleppo AMC only reported artillery shelling but no victims.

The Syrian Observatory mentioned airstrikes and artillery shelling, and only reported “injuries”.

The incident occured during the night.

The victims were named as:

Ayman Mohammed Latuf Al-Najjar
Adult male killed
Mohammed Karman
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • URGENT: Turkish artillery bombardment targets Bab al-Bab north of Aleppo. 25th December 2016. (via Aleppo AMC)

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
    2 – 3
  • (1 woman2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS420 TS030

Incident date

December 23, 2016

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 20 and 25 civilians died in a Turkish (or less likely Coalition) raid on al Bab.

According to ISIS’s media wing, “Turkish planes committed a new massacre in al Bab for the second day running – initial toll of 20 dead.”

Umayya reported the death toll as being possibly even higher than 25: “The number of people killed in Turkish airstrikes on the city of Bab on Friday rose to more than 25, mostly civilians, including seven children and ten women, including four families killed in the rubble of their homes, in addition to dozens of injuries.”

Graphic images posted on social media showed several slaim children.

LCCSY was the only source to attribute the attack to the US-led Coalition. In an emailed response to a report submitted by Airwars on this and other incidents in December 2016, Coalition officials said the event was presently assessed as ‘Not credible for Coalition caused civcas.’ It also stated that “After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (8)

Mohammad ali Al Ragheb
Adult male killed
Najah
Adult female Mohammad ali Al Ragheb's wife killed
Manal al Ragheb
Age unknown female Mohammad ali Al Ragheb's daughter killed
Manal al Ragheb's son
Age unknown male killed
Mohammad Kheir al Ragheb
Age unknown male Mohammad ali Al Ragheb's son
Mohammad Kheir al Ragheb's wife
Adult female killed
Mohammad Kheir al Ragheb's son
male Also named Mohammed killed
Mohammad Kheir al Ragheb's daughter
female Najjah killed

The victims were named as:

Khalil Zakariya al Saleh [al Shafi’i]
Age unknown male killed
Abu Asa’ad al Maghribi
Age unknown male killed
Abu Daham family
Age unknown not yet confirmed] killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 25
  • (3–7 children3–10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

  • Tweet saying more than 75 civilians killed in al Bab in alleged Turkish raids and reports that daesh is preventing civilians from leaving. 23rd December 2016. (via salam_alfraty2)
  • 20 civilians reported killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al Bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Kalmuqdad)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Khaled_qahtan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Khaled_qahtan)

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Photos of children killed in alleged Turkish strikes on al bab. 23rd December 2016. (via Khaled_qahtan)

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.

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
  • Stated location
    near Al Bab, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Aug 4, 2017

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area of the reported civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For December 22nd-24th the Coalition publicly reported no strikes in Aleppo governorate.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Friday 23 December – Typhoons bombed a terrorist position north of Tabaqah in Syria; in Iraq, Tornados hit a weapons cache north-east of Haditha, and a Reaper destroyed an artillery gun near Mosul…The next day [Dec 23rd], Typhoon FGR4s, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, patrolled over Syria and successfully attacked a terrorist position which SDF fighters had encountered to the north of Tabaqah, near Lake Assad. In Iraq, Tornados used Paveway IVs to destroy a weapons stockpile some 50 miles north-east of Haditha, whilst a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft assisted the Iraqi operations in Mosul; its crew conducted a thorough check for civilians who might be at risk before a successful coalition air strike destroyed another weapons stockpile. The Reaper then delivered an attack using one of its own Hellfire missiles to destroy an artillery piece loaded on a trailer – as with the tank, the terrorists had attempted to hide the gun under a tarpaulin in thick woodland to the north-west of the city, but to no avail.’

Danish Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Danske øjne styrer fly sikkert gennem Irak og Syrien “Hvis man forestiller sig at skulle lande i en lufthavn eller flyve, hvor flyvelederne sidder med lukkede øjne, så har man situationen, hvis vores radar ikke snurrede rundt.” 23-12-2016 – kl. 11:00 Af radarbidraget og ACW I en amerikansk enhed arbejder et mindre radarbidrag fra Flyvevåbnet, hvor de holder styr på luftrummet over Irak og Syrien i kampen mod ISIL. Kingpin bliver kontrolcentralen kaldt, hvorfra det amerikanske flyvevåbens 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron sammen med både australiere, englændere og danskere er øjne, øre og guidende hænder for flytrafikken. 24 timer i døgnet holder de øje med luftrummet over Afghanistan, den Arabiske Gulf, Irak og Syrien. De danske udsendte fra Flyvevåbnets Air Control Wing koncentrerer sig om Irak og Syrien og går under kaldenavnet Gotham, hvor de blandt andet anvender den danske radar på Al Asad Airbase i Irak, som er en del af det samlede danske radarbidrag. Men de trækker også på en række andre radarer, radioer og overvågningsfly, så der konstant kan produceres et opdateret luftbillede, så flyene kan blive støttet i deres missioner. – Vi er et relativt lille bidrag på i alt cirka 30 mand med operatører og radarteknikere, men effekten af bidraget er enormt. Hvis man forestiller sig at skulle lande i en lufthavn eller flyve, hvor flyvelederne sidder med lukkede øjne, så har man situationen, hvis vores radar ikke snurrede rundt, siger chefen for radarbidraget, oberstløjtnant Kim Krogh.’

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    20 – 25
  • (3–7 children3–10 women1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12–24
  • 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]