Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS158

Incident date

November 15, 2022

Location

Karkamış, Gaziantep, Turkey

Airwars assessment

Two to three civilians were reportedly killed, and six to ten others were injured, two seriously, as a result of alleged PKK/YPG counterfire rocket artillery fire which hit Karkamış, Gaziantep, in Turkey on November 15th 2022.

@ConflictTR reported that the Minister of Interior for Turkey, Suleyman Soylu, said that one civilian that was killed was a teacher and another was a child. One of the injured was reported to have been a healthcare worker who was hit whilst attempting a rescue after the first rocket hit.

According to @AmRaadPSF, one of the seven rockets which fell on the village hit a primary school. The Daily Sabah reported that three schools were hit, alongside two houses and a truck.

The Daily Sabah also reported that the child who was killed was the nephew of Mahir Polat, deputy of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). Polat was reported to tweet, “Our nephew Hasan Karataş lost his life in the rocket attack organized by the treacherous terrorist organization in Gaziantep’s Karkamış district.”

The teacher who was killed was named Aysenur Alkan, and one of her loved ones tweeted, “I lost all hope that everything will be fine.” Her father also said, “I’ve been calling since nine in the morning but I can’t reach him. It was a daily commute. I don’t want to say anything. I’m burning inside…”  The child who was reported killed was identified as Hasan Karataş, aged five.

The attack was reported to have been a double-tap strike, as one of the wounded, health worker, Mehmet Goren, said that “there was a civilian under debris, we were helping them. At that moment another bomb came. With the quake, I found myself in the stairwell. Then I was brought to the hospital. I believe my leg is broken.”

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Hasan Karataş
Child male killed
Aysenur Alkan
Adult female killed
Mehmet Goren
Adult female injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (15) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (17) [ collapse]

  • @ConflictTR reported that the five year old nephew of CHP Izmir Deputy Mahir Polat lost his life (Image via @ConflictTR / Twitter)
  • The five year old nephew of CHP Izmir Deputy Mahir Polat reportedly lost his life (Image via @vekilmahirpolat / Twitter)
  • @AmRaadPSF reported that two civilians lost their lives and six were injured (Image via Twitter)
  • @AmRaadPSF reported that two civilians lost their lives and six were injured (Image via Twitter)
  • "The Karkamıs and Oncupınar attacks are carried out from the areas jointly controlled by the YPG/PKK with the Assad regime and Russia." (Image via @leventkemal / Twitter)
  • "The Karkamıs and Oncupınar attacks are carried out from the areas jointly controlled by the YPG/PKK with the Assad regime and Russia." (Image via @leventkemal / Twitter)
  • Daily Sabah reported from the incident on November 21st 2022.
  • Daily Sabah reported from the incident on November 21st 2022.
  • Daily Sabah reported from the incident on November 21st 2022.
  • Ayşenur Alkan, a teacher, reportedly killed in an alleged YPG attack on November 21st 2022 (Image via @gulsumygmrlplt / Twitter)
  • "We visited our compatriots who were injured in the infamous attack on our Karkamış district from the north of Syria, at our Nizip State Hospital, where they were treated." (@AliSahin501 / Twitter)
  • "We visited our compatriots who were injured in the infamous attack on our Karkamış district from the north of Syria, at our Nizip State Hospital, where they were treated." (@AliSahin501 / Twitter)
  • "We visited our compatriots who were injured in the infamous attack on our Karkamış district from the north of Syria, at our Nizip State Hospital, where they were treated." (@AliSahin501 / Twitter)
  • "5-year-old Hasan Karataş, who was martyred in the rocket attack carried out by PKK/YPG terrorists against Gaziantep's #Karkamış district, was buried in tears with a ceremony." (Image via @milliyet / Twitter)
  • "5-year-old Hasan Karataş, who was martyred in the rocket attack carried out by PKK/YPG terrorists against Gaziantep's #Karkamış district, was buried in tears with a ceremony." (Image via @milliyet / Twitter)
  • "5-year-old Hasan Karataş, who was martyred in the rocket attack carried out by PKK/YPG terrorists against Gaziantep's #Karkamış district, was buried in tears with a ceremony." (Image via @milliyet / Twitter)
  • "5-year-old Hasan Karataş, who was martyred in the rocket attack carried out by PKK/YPG terrorists against Gaziantep's #Karkamış district, was buried in tears with a ceremony." (Image via @milliyet / Twitter)

YPG Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    YPG
  • YPG position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 3
  • (1 child1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–10
  • 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
    YPG

Sources (15) [ collapse]