Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS128

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Location

راجو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.67296, 36.666364 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to nine civilians died and dozens more were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes in Rajo village, according to local media.

Reports from Free Afrin said that a family was struck by a reported Turkish strike – killing one civilian and injuring two more.

While most sources initially reported the victims as belonging to an Armenian family, Afrin Now later published a correction: “Today we published a news story about the victims in an Armenian family as a result of the Turkish bombardment of Rajo. However it turned out that the family is Kurdish and only one of the Armenian family origins is Armenian. We apologise for this unintended error, and we promise that we will be more careful and accurate in spreading the news to our followers.”

Other sources put the death toll higher. According to Press 23, seven civilians died and dozens more were injured by “Turkish occupation forces”. A report by Alitihad Press said “at least nine people were wounded when a rocket and artillery shell targeted civilian houses in Rajo”.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Rocher Kunes
Adult killed
Shamsa Kounis
57 years old injured
Hanifa Kounis
25 years old leg amputated injured
Muhammad Sedo
5 years old male named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Mustafa Haj Ali
74 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured
Asmat Gogo
62 years old named by The Kurdish Red Crescent injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Rajo village, Afrin (راجو), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.67296, 36.666364. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Victim of an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, Afrin, 26th January 2018. (via Afrin Now)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 9
  • Civilians reported injured
    5–24
  • 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]