Incident Code

TS435

Location

Qeşqa, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.630682, 40.024910
Accuracy: Village

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

At least one civilian was killed and an unknown number of others was wounded when Turkish forces and Turkey-backed militants opened fire at a car in northwest Ras Al Ayn city on May 16th, 2020.

A reporter for the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), which is affiliated with the Syrian regime, in Hasaka stated that “the occupation forces and their mercenaries intentionally opened fire on a van coming for Raqqa city near a checkpoint for the occupation mercenary on Saturday [May 16th]”, adding that the killed man worked in a school while the injured man is a retired worker from an electricity company.

@IbrahimDSY wrote on Twitter that there had been “one civilian martyr and another wounded, as the Turkish occupation forces and its terrorist mercenaries, fired on a civilian car near a terrorist barrier southwest of Ras Al Ayn.”

ANF stated that “the slain civilian is Mihemed Hesen El Cabir from the village of Migrin, west of Til Helef, who was on his way home back from Raqqa last night with others when Turkish-backed jihadists opened fire on the group. Several other people were injured. The man’s body was taken to Selam Hospital in Serêkaniyê.”

@vvanwilgenburg, however, reported that two civilians were killed, naming them as Mihemed Xidir Husên and Ziyab El-Elî.

Victims

Invidivuals

Adult male killed
Adult male killed

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Civilians reported killed
1–2
1–2 Men
Civilians reported injured
1–5

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Qeşqa, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.630682, 40.024910. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Military Statements

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

Media From Sources (3)