Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TI091

Incident date

April 15, 2023

Location

بنجوين, Kani Miran, Saliawah and Waryawh, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were killed and two others were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the villages of Kani Miran, Saliawah and Waryawh in Sulaymaniyah on April 15, 2023.

The head of the local government in the province of Sulaymaniyah, Haval Abu Bakr, was quoted by a Facebook post from Adil Hamood as announcing that two people were killed and two others were wounded when a drone bombed villages in Penjwin district in the evening.

Hawar News quoted a source from Roj News Agency who attributed the drone strikes to Turkish forces and identified strikes on the villages of “Kani Miran, Saliawah and Waryawh,” specifically striking a car, and resulting in injuries and casualties.

An anonymous source told Rudaw News that the strikes were carried out by Turkey and they targeted fighters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). However, the source did not mention if those killed and injured were members of the PKK. Other local sources refer to those killed and injured as “people” and “citizens.”

Sputnik Today, a Russian state-run news source, reported that according to Turkish newspaper “Hurriyet,” the Turkish government had placed the city of Sulaymaniyah among the list of Turkish military targets.

The incident occured in the evening.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    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 belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ 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
    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 belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]