Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS502a

Incident date

April 22, 2022

Location

شارع 48، كوباني, Street 48, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.887005, 38.360427 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on a shop on Street 48 in the city of Kobani on April 22, 2022.

North Press Agency originally put the number of civilians injured at one “slightly injured”, identifying the victim as Muhammad Khalil Bako, the owner of a shop on Street 48 that was bombed. “Bako” told North-Press that he was sitting inside his shop with another person during the fall of the shell. He pointed out that the bombing caused significant material damage in the commercial store.

The New Arab reported that Turkish drones carried out strikes on the city centre of Kobani and a nearby village, injuring two people overall, including another civilian injury documented in TS502.

Kurdistan24 quoted Rojava Media Centre, which stated that Turkey’s “bombardment of Kobani city center with howitzers, civilians were injured and shops were burned” without specifying how many civilians were injured. Kurdistan24 also quoted Hawar News Agency, which identified four “artillery shells have hit the city so far,” adding that the shells “fell on 48th Street and Kaniya Kurda neighborhood in Kobani city.”

North Press Agency listed the locations that the four shells struck as Al-Shaheed Kawa neighborhood south of the city, shops on Al-Arbaeen Street in the center of the city, Kania Kordan neighborhood and Kobani forest.

The US Embassy in Syria condemned the attack, tweeting that “We are deeply concerned by reports of shelling on Kobani and deplore any loss of civilian life. The United States calls on all parties to deescalate.”

Mazloum Abdî, the SDF General Commander, tweeted a statement: “Turkey is escalating violations of int’l covenants with guarantor countries against our regions. The targeting of Kobani, shelling of innocent civilians, & killings of administrative figures by drones are provocations that threaten security & peace & hinder anti-ISIS operations.”

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to Turkey.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Muhammed Khalil Bako ومحمد خليل بكو
41 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • ANHA correspondent from the area reported that Turkish occupation army resumed its artillery bombardment on the center of the city of Kobani, and reprted that an artillery shell fell on a 3-storey building on the Street 48 without exploding (Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish bombing of Kobani on April 22, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish bombing of Kobani on April 22, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Farhad Muhammad Hassan (28 years), who was injured by shrapnel in the leg in alleged Turkish strikes in Kobani. (Image posted by Ezdina)

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a shop struck on Street 48 (شارع 48) in the city of Kobani (كوباني). Analyzing audio-visual material from sources, Airwars has narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 36.887005, 38.360427.

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  • Tagged visual evidence from sources.

    Imagery:
    Hawar News

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike and/or Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    1
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (10) [ collapse]