Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS555

Incident date

September 20, 2022

Location

قرية السويدية, village of Al-Suwaydia, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

35.771944, 39.636111 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least 2 people were killed and up to three others were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Al-Suwaydia on September 20, 2022. Sources are conflicted as to whether the civilians killed were digging tunnels for the SDF or were in their homes.

According to Hawar News, two civilians were killed and three others were injured when a Turkish drone bombed the village of Al-Suwaydia in the Ain Issa Countryside. The civilians killed are named Khaled Hanifa and Bashar Barakat and the civilians injured are named Sabri Seido / 20 years old, Aziz Zaidan / 32 years old and Rashid Zeidan, 42 years old. In addition to the civilian casualties, there was significant material damage to civilian homes and properties.

Ain Issa Media Center also identified two civilians as being killed but put the number of injuries at two. BasNews added that one of the injured victims, Rashid, was seriously injured.

BasNews reported that the five people killed and injured were working with the Syrian Democratic Forces digging tunnels. However, the majority of other sources refer to those killed and injured as civilians and place them in their homes when the drone strikes occurred.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drones to Turkish forces, and BasNews added that the escalation between the SDF and the Turkish army resulted in the displacement of people from their villages.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Hanifa خالد حنيفة
Age unknown killed
Bashar Barakat بشّار بركات
Age unknown killed
Sabri Seido صبري سيدو
20 years old injured
Aziz Zaidan عزيز زيدان
32 years old injured
Rashid Zeidan رشيد زيدان
42 years old injured

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Suwaydia (السويدية), for which the generic coordinates are: 35.771944, 39.636111. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Al-Suwaydia on September 20, 2022. (Image posted by ANF)

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 2
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–3
  • 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 belligerent
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–2
  • Belligerents reported injured
    0–3

Sources (6) [ collapse]