Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

TS689

Incident date

March 17, 2024

Location

قرية بيلونية, outskirts of the town of Tal Rifaat, east of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

During the morning of Sunday, March 17, 2024, at approximately 10:30 am, an alleged Turkish drone strike killed one civilian man and injured another man on the outskirts of the town of Tal Rifaat while they were heading towards Biluniya Village located in Al-Shahba district north of Aleppo, Syria.

Ali Abdul Rahman Muhammad, an 18-year-old man originally from Kamruk in the Mabata/Maabatli district, was among the civilians walking near Tal Rifaat making their way to agricultural fields when the Turkish drone reportedly hit them. Multiple local news sources, such as ANF News, Hawar News, and Fox Press confirmed that Ali lost his life as a result of the strike. They also reported that another civilian, Muhammad Muhammad Sabri Khaled, suffered serious injuries in the same attack.

Facebook account “Afrini displaced” shared the images of the two victims. One image showed the face of the deceased young man, Ali Abdul Rahman Muhammad, lying on a white cloth stained with blood. Another image showed the injured Muhammad Khaled in a hospital –  a man in his 40s wearing a maroon-colored T-shirt and a gray hat, with both of his arms in plaster.

Where sources identified a belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Turkish military.

The incident occured at approximately 10:30 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Ali Abdul Rahman Muhammad علي عبد الرحمن محمد
18 years old male killed
Muhammad Muhammad Sabri Khaled محمد محمد صبري خالد
Adult male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (4) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Hawar News news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANF news
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Displaced Afrin
  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: Displaced Afrin

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
    1
  • (1 man)
  • 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 belligerent
    Turkish Military

Sources (7) [ collapse]