Conflict

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Incident Code

TS478

Location

الهلالية, al-Hilaliya, Al Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.051495, 41.198363
Accuracy: Exact location (via Airwars)

Airwars Assessment

Last Updated: December 15, 2024

At least three civilian men, including a 70 year old man, were killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle in the al-Hilaliya neighborhood in the city of Qamishli on November 9, 2021.

The North Press Agency reported that three people were killed in a Turkish drone strike in the al-Hilaliya neighborhood in the city of Qamishli. Furat News Agency referred to the three people killed as being civilians.

According to the sources of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the person who was targeted in the explosion is a member of the Syrian Democratic Forces’ leadership’s advisory, but he was not in the targeted car at the time of the strikes. Instead, the explosion resulted in the death of his grandfather, his brother and a third of their relatives. At the time of reporting, they believed that the explosion could’ve been caused by a Turkish drone or an explosive device planted in the car.

Rudaw News also reported that the vehicle that was destroyed was an armored vehicle that belonged to the SDF and that the strike killed his brother Mazloum Gilo, and two of their relatives Yousef Gilo and Mohammed Gilo.

A tweet from @slmhktn refers to “PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party) members” being in the car but does not specify who among the victims was a PKK member.

Images provided by local sources show a white SUV on fire in the middle of a residential neighborhood in the city of Qamishli, with residents and rescue teams trying to put out the fire. Tasrebat quoted a source that reported that ambulances transported the bodies of the victims, which were charred as a result of the fire, to the Khabat Military Hospital in the city.

Nalia Media Corporation added that the strike occurred at 3pm local time and that the drone belonged to Turkish forces.

Victims

Family members (3)

Yousef Gilo
70 years old male
Mazloum Gilo
male
Mohammed Gilo
male

Key Information

Country
Military Actor
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Artillery
Strike Status
Likely strike
Civilian Harm Reported
Yes
Civilian Harm Status
Fair
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Civilians reported killed
2–3
2–3 Men
Military actors reported killed
0–1

Geolocation Notes

Reports of the incident mention a car struck in the Al Hilaliya (الهلالية) neighbourhood of the city of Qamishli (قامشلي). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 37.051495, 41.198363.

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Tagged visual material from sources.

Imagery: @LaqsLaqs16

Military Statements

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

Media From Sources (14)