During the afternoon of Wednesday 28th August 2024, a civilian car was reportedly hit by an alleged Turkish drone strike (or a Turkish convoy or explosion from a planted device) near the industrial garage in the vicinity of the Heart and Eye Hospital in the Al Anariyah neighborhood or near the eastern post office in Qamishli city, the northeastern countryside of Hasakah Governorate, Syria. At least three people were killed and three others were injured.

The strike resulted in the death of a 45-year-old local woman named Khalida Muhammad Sharif, and her son, a young 24-year-old man named Hijar Adnan Suleiman (Hawker), and the injury of three more people, while the car was completely burnt.

Hawar News’ Facebook account posted a black-and-white picture of the mother and son. The mother was wearing a flowery hijab, and her son was wearing a black T-shirt with inscriptions.

The location of the incident was reported differently by local sources. While some sources, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), claimed that the car was attacked near the Heart and Eye hospital, other sources, including Hawar News, ANF News, and Foxpress Facebook account stated that it was attacked near the post and communications center (Eastern post office). Arta.fm radio Facebook account, referring to a source from the Martyrs’ Families Council in Qamishli, also claimed that the car exploded opposite the post office.

According to the activist Khaled al-Haskawi who told the details of the incident to Al-Araby, a Turkish strike on another car near the Covid hospital led to the death of an unnamed PKK Leader. Khaled also reported about the killing of a civilian named Suleiman Omo along with a woman. It is unclear whether this is a variation of Hijar Adnan Suleiman or is a different person, which has bee accounted for in the toll.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) posted images and videos related to the incident on its website, showing the burning vehicle, a dark cloud of smoke, and firefighters’ efforts to extinguish the fire. Arta.fm’s Facebook account shared a picture of a huge cloud of black smoke rising on the horizon and dozens of onlookers.

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Qamishli reported that ambulances were heard heading to the location moments after smoke rose from the targeted site.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all the sources concurred that the belligerents responsible were the Turkish military or their affiliated militias.

The nature of the attack remains unclear. The majority of the reports alleged it was a drone strike whilst a Fox Express Facebook account attributed it to a Turkish ground convoy. Another source, Arta.fm radio, claimed that the car exploded from a planted device.

The incident occured in the afternoon.