Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

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

Incident Code

TS471

Incident date

August 17, 2021

Location

ابو راسين, Abu Rasin, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.952382, 41.140923 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and two civilians, including a woman and a child, were killed and between 10 and 20 others, including two women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Zirgan on August 17, 2021.

According to North Press Agency (NPA), at least one civilian was killed and between 10 and 20 others were injured. “Nadwa al-Nifekh, 45, was killed in the Turkish bombing, and more than ten wounded civilians were transferred to the hospitals of al-Derbasiyah, Amuda and Hasakah,” local sources from the town said.

Ahram News identified one of the civilians killed as being a woman while Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that a little girl was killed along with five civilians injured, along with two images of young children in bandages in a medical facility but it is unclear if they were killed or injured. In another post, (SOHR) put the number of injured civilians at 20, including women and children, and the number killed at two, including a woman and a child.

Rudaw news also reported that a woman and child were killed along with 11 other civilians injured. Images they posted show at least two women, a child, and a man receiving medical treatment for their wounds following the strikes.

A military source of the SDF also told NPA that the bombing included five villages belonging to the town, which are Bab al-Khair, Bab al-Faraj, Tel al-Ward, al-Rabi’at and Shour. He said that about 50 artillery and mortar shells fell on the town alone, which, in addition to human losses, caused great material damage. Ahram News also reported that the bombing caused widespread panic among civilians and led to multiple families leaving the villages.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the shelling to Turkey

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

45 years old female killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Shelling of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by NPA)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, one of the victims of the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    A child, one of the victims of the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • A child receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A woman receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A man receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • A woman receiving medical treatment after the bombing of Zirgan on August 17, 2021. (Image posted by Rudaw News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Abu Rasin (ابو راسين), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.952382, 41.140923. 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
    1 – 2
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    10–20
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS490

Incident date

February 2, 2022

Location

عنديور, Ain Diwar, Syria

Geolocation

37.298090, 42.199860 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to two civilians were injured in Ain Diwar village, in the countryside of Derik in northeast Syria when Turkish shells hit their homes on February 2nd 2022. According to the North Press Agency, “the bombardment also resulted in the destruction of two houses, and the outbreak of fire in five houses.” The SDF announced that the bombing killed both civilians and fighters, but there were no other current local reports of civilians being killed.

They reported that those injured were Omar Amro, aged 70, and another young man who was in his thirties. However, ANHA put the number of injured at one civilian, who was taken to hospital for treatment, although they had no further details.

The Commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, announced on Twitter that “the Turkish bombing of Ain Diwar and Derik has resulted in the martyrdom of civilians and fighters, but also affected public infrastructure.” He also added that “this attack amounts to a declaration of war and puts civilians at risk.”

According to Al Qamishli News, the “bombing of Ain Dewar was due to the bombing of the Turkish police station with two shells from Ain Dewar, which were fired by Kadro Harun and the member Shibli Muhammad, and they killed a Turkish eleent and then the bombing began on Ain Dewar.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Omar Amro
70 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • “#SOHR camera” captures bombardment by Turkish forces on civilian houses in #Ain_Diwar area in #Al_Malikiyah countryside (#Dayrik) near #Syria-#Turkey-#Iraq border triangle" (Vieddeo via Facebook / Syrian Observatory for Human Rights"

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Ain Diwar (عنديور), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.298090, 42.199860. 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 type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS518

Incident date

June 9, 2022

Location

ميسلون, Maysaloun neighborhood, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.065754, 41.244520 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between one and five civilians were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Maysaloun neighborhood in Qamishli on June 9, 2022.

A local source told North Press that “at about 10 a.m, a ‘Turkish’ drone attacked a location near a local market in Maysaloon neighborhood in the city of Qamishli,” resulting in an injury to one civilian and material damage to three food transport trucks. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights identified the market struck as Al-Hal market while Hawar News detailed the location to be near martyr Dalil Sarukhan shrine.

Xeber24 referred to damage to “three civilian cars” and the injury of one of the drivers of the cars, who was taken to a hospital in the city for treatment.

The Internal Security Forces (Asayish) put the number of civilians injured at five, releasing a statement that “this morning, Thursday, the ninth of June, a Turkish drone targeted a warehouse of the Community Protection Forces in the Maysalun neighborhood in Qamishlo city.”

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

The incident occured at approximately 10:00 am local time.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by an alleged Turkish drone strike on Maysaloun neighborhood in Qamishli city on June 9th, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Turkish drone strike on Maysaloun neighborhood in Qamishli city on June 9th, 2022. (Image posted by Xeber24)
  • Damage caused by an alleged Turkish drone strike on Maysaloun neighborhood in Qamishli city on June 9th, 2022. (Image posted by Darka Mazi)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a strike on a fruit and vegetable market in the Maysaloun neighbourhood (ميسلون) of Al-Qamishli (ٱلْقَامِشْلِي). Analysing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 37.065754, 41.244520.

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  • Imagery:
    Xeber24

  • Imagery:
    Nûçe Ciwan

  • Imagery:
    Nûçe Ciwan

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
    1–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS542

Incident date

August 9, 2022

Location

السلماسة, Al Salmsaa, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.640463, 40.292959 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was reported killed on August 9th 2022 in the village of Al-Salmsaa, southwest of Tal Tamr district in Syria, as a result of alleged Turkish military artillery.

The incident was reported to have taken place at approximately 3:30am in the morning, which allegedly resulted in the death of Ibrahim Mohammad Hashi, aged 55. He was reportedly displaced from the village of Al-Sebatiya, northwest of Tal Tamr district.

Hashi was severely injured in this attack and was taken to Hasaka Hospital where he was confirmed dead.

The incident occured at 03:30:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Ibrahim Muhammad Hashi
55 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Salmsaa (السلماسة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.640463, 40.292959. 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 infrastructure
    IDP or refugee camp
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (8) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS569

Incident date

November 21, 2022

Location

الحمره, Al-Hamra neighborhood in the center of Tal Tamr district, Tal Tamr, Syria

Airwars assessment

One young man, Abd al-Rahman Rashid Hassan, aged 17, was injured in a reported Turkish bombardment from a drone which hit the neighbourhood of Al-Hamra, in the centre of Tal Tamr district, Syria, on November 21st 2022.

ANHA and other local sources reported that the Turkish drone targeted a car or a military vehicle which was near a Russian forces base.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdul Rahman Rashid Hassan
17 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    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 (3) [ collapse]

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
    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 (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS599

Incident date

June 12, 2023

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

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

Airwars assessment

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

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

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

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

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

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

The victims were named as:

Khabat Adham
28 years old male injured
Alaa Abdurrazaq Ibrahim
22 years old male injured
Muhammad Bahjat Ayoub
25 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

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

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.889115, 38.350168. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    3–5
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS627

Incident date

September 5, 2023

Location

قرية الحويجة, Al-Hawija village, Raqqa, Syria

Airwars assessment

A male civilian was injured in a bombing suspected to have been carried out by the Turkish military during the night of September 5, 2023 in Al-Hawija village in Ain Issa district. A Hawar News correspondent named the injured civilian as 23 year old Khalil Ibrahim Al-Hamad who was taken to the National Hospital in Raqqa for treatment; it is unclear what injuries he sustained in the attack.

Several homes were damaged in the attack. Images shared by Hogir Necar were taken during the night with reduced visibility but show the resulting damage in three different locations, including a hole in an external residential building the size of a doorway, and rubble scattered on the street from another location damaged by the bombing. Hawar News discussed this bombing attack alongside a further context of recent use of “machine guns and heavy weapons” in the area by the Turkish Army.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khalil Ibrahim Al-Hamad
23 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
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling in Ain Issa district on September 5, 2023. (Image posted by Hogir necar via Facebook)

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
  • Causes of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI099

Incident date

October 17, 2023

Location

قرية كاني كندي , Kani Kindi village, Koya District, Kurdistan, Iraq

Airwars assessment

On Tuesday, October 17th, 2023, one man was killed and up to three other civilians, women, were injured after an alleged Turkish drone strike on a car in the Kani Kindi village in the Koya district of Kurdistan, Iraq.

The car was reported to have belonged to citizens of the Makhmour refugee camp; the driver was killed immediately and three others belonging to one family were injured. 27-year-old Dolovan Işlik was driving, and appeared to have been traveling to visit a relative in the town of Rania. It is unclear whether the relative was his sister or sister-in-law; they were apparently visiting to help the relative with their work in fishing or livestock. It should be noted that while most sources referred to the deceased as Dolovan Işlik, Al Araby News, quoting the police director of the town of Koysanjak, referred to him as Delovan Salam Suleiman.

ANF reported that the injured were three women, which Roj News echoed. While Al Araby reported that only one person was injured, all other sources mentioned three wounded.

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

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Dolovan Işlik دلوفان إشليك
27 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • Dolovan Işlik, killed by alleged Turkish drone strikes in the village of Kani Kindi on October 17, 2023. (Image posted by Roj News)
    Source: Ronahi.tv
  • Source: Hawar News

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 (5) [ collapse]