Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS585

Incident date

January 18, 2023

Location

القحطانية , Al-Qahtaniya Road in the countryside of Al-Hassakah, Al Hassakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a child died from injuries sustained during an alleged Turkish drone strike on Al-Qahtaniya Road in Al-Hasakah on January 18, 2023. One other civilian may have also been injured.

On January 18th 2023, a civilian was reportedly killed by a Turkish drone strike on a vehicle Al-Qahtaniya Road, in Al-Hasakah countryside. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) added that the civilian killed was the driver and that the attack occurred in the afternoon.

According to Hawar News, one of the civilians wounded is named Ahmed Al-Salem, a 45 year old from the village of Girê Merk who was near the vehicle that was struck with the drone. Hawar News added that others were injured at the time, and that Ahmed was taken to a hospital in Qamishlo for treatment.

On January 20th, SOHR announced that a 12 year old child died of the wounds he sustained in the drone strike of the car. برجاف – FM added that this brought the death toll to two.

Hawar News provided the name of the child killed: Ahmed Abdel-Ghani Al-Salem. Hawar added that Ahmed received an injury to his head from shrapnel and later died from his injuries, adding that he was from the villages of the countryside of Tal Hamid district and that his family had been working on the Ari farm, which is close to the strike location. It is unclear if the child Ahmed is the same person as the injured man earlier referenced by Hawar with the wrong age or if the two victims are related.

On January 24th, SOHR announce another civilian had died of wounds sustained during the attack. Hawar News provided the name of the civilian that died: Abd al-Rahman Hussein Hussam, from the village of Kahnia Dreij in the Kujarat district of Derik district. SOHR added that Abd had been it by shrapnel in the head as well.

ANF reported the location of the strike as occurring on the road to Qamishlo and Derik at the “Ari” rest house at the junction of the village of Ma’shouq. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the casualties to Turkish drones.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmed Al-Salem
45 years old injured
Ahmed Abdel-Ghani Al-Salem أحمد عبد الغني السالم
12 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Rahman Hussein Hussam عبد الرحمن حسين
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • ANHA correspondent said that the citizen who was wounded on the Turkish attack on the Qamishlo-Derik road, is called Ahmed Al-Salem.
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Al-Qahtaniya Road on January 18, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Al-Qahtaniya Road on January 18, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Al-Qahtaniya Road on January 18, 2022. (Image posted by ANF)
  • Another injured person died in an air attack of the Turkish occupation on the Qamishlo-Derik road on January 18, succumbing to his wounds.

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
    3
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    0–1
  • 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 belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (9) [ collapse]