Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS597

Incident date

May 28, 2023

Location

عفرين ، رأس العين ، اعزاز ، تل أبيض ، الباب ، جرابلس, Afrin, Ras Al Ain, Azaz, Tell Abyad, Al Bab, Jarablus, various regions, Syria

Geolocation

36.512278, 36.865389 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Additional Geolocations

36.848621, 40.072403 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.586827, 37.048090 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.691939, 38.951152 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map 36.372135, 37.516151 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map 36.818970, 38.007554 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

A child was killed and between 20 to 25 civilians, including two women and four children, were injured by alleged Turkish-back faction heavy gunfire around Afrin on May 28, 2023.

Hawar News initially reported that a child was killed and “a number of people, including women” were injured by gunfire from Turkish militia members while celebrating the re-election of Turkish president Erdogan. Hawar then updated their information to 25 injuries, including women and children, in Afrin district and then went on to specify that two people were injured near Al-Thura bakery, a woman was injured in Sajo camp in Azaz, and others were injured in the city of Sere Kaniye.

North Press Agency initially reported that three people were injured, specifically in Mahmudiyah camp in Afrin, but then revised their numbers to 20 people total wounded by stray bullets, including four children and two women. The source then clarified where the injuries occurred: “seven wounded in Afrin and its countryside north of Aleppo, four in Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in the countryside of Hasakah, three each in the city of Azaz north of Aleppo and the city of Tel Abyad In the northern countryside of Raqqa, two in the city of al-Bab east of Aleppo, and one was wounded in Jarablus.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Civilians injured by alleged Turkish gunfire in Afrin district on May 28, 2023. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the cities of Afrin (عفرين), Ras Al Ain (رَأْس ٱلْعَيْن), Azaz (أَعْزَاز), Tell Abyad (تَلّ أَبْيَض), Al Bab (الْبَاب), and Jarablus (جَرَابُلُس). The generic coordinates for Afrin are: 36.512278, 36.865389. The generic coordinates for Ras Al Ain are: 36.848621, 40.072403. The generic coordinates for Azaz are: 36.586827, 37.048090. The generic coordinates for Tell Abyad are: 36.691939, 38.951152. The generic coordinates for Al Bab are: 36.372135, 37.516151. The generic coordinates for Jarablus are: 36.818970, 38.007554. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the locations further.

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Ground operation
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    20–25
  • Cause of injury / death
    Small arms and light weapons
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]