Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS279

Incident date

March 17, 2018

Location

محمودية, Mahmoudiya neighbourhood, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.518056, 36.845278 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 11 and 13 civilians died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on a convoy of cars in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin, according to local media.

IC Afrin reported that two vehicles were hit with dozens of people on the road out of Afrin to Tirinde village. The people were attempting to flee the area towards Shehba Canton.

The source went on to add: In the Mahmoudiye neighbourhood of Afrin city a howitzer of the Turkish army hit a tractor which was full of civilians. The numbers of killed civilians are at least 13. Their bodies were completely burned. Only one child survived injured.

ANF said that a tractor and another vehicle were struck, reporting that dozens of civilians including children were killed.

Massoud Mohammed put the death toll slightly lower, at 11 civilians.

Afrin now on Facebook identified a woman and her husband and indicated that their son disappeared. Also, another victim was identified.

The source Efrin Dile Kurdistane also reported the death of Shahnaz Rasho, though it reported her killed on March 16th, while all other sources point to this event in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood occurring on March 17th. Consequently, there is the possibility that she is one of the 47 killed (the general figure was given by Hawar news) on March 16th.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Adult female via Afrin now on Facebook killed
Adult male via Afrin now on Facebook killed

The victims were named as:

Child male via Afrin now on Facebook killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    11 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (3) [ collapse]

  • An image reveals the destruction that followed a strike targeted a convoy of cars in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin (source: Hawar news)
  • A picture of Reber Aliko, killed in an alleged Turkish strike on in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin (source: Afrin now)
  • A picture of Shahnaz Rasho, killed with her husband in an alleged Turkish strike on in the Mahmoudiya neighbourhood of Afrin (source: 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
    11 – 13
  • (1 child1 woman1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]