Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Incident Code

YS134

Incident date

June 1, 2022

Location

تل أبيض, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.689111, 38.946356 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between two and four civilians were killed and up to 12 others were injured in alleged Syrian Democratic Forces airstrikes/drone strikes/shelling of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022.

@DeirEzzorNow tweeted the names of the victims: two brothers “Wassim and Bashar Al-Barhou“, Hajj “Abdi Al-Hamran”, Khaled Al-Halisi 34 years old, adding that in addition “several” were wounded. A Facebook post from Hajin Today 2021 referred to Abdi Al-Hamran as being elderly and Athr Press identified two of those killed as being under the age of 18.

Al Khabour posted on Facebook that three people were killed by “PYD/PKK missile strikes” and 10 others were injured, some of them seriously. @ShahbaPress reported that “two civilians were killed and four wounded”, while @AlArabiya_Brk also put the number of killed at two but differed on the number of wounded, reporting that six civilians were wounded. A higher injury number was provided by @alamlmediatv, putting the injury toll at 12.

Halab Today added that among the injured, “our people were transferred to Turkish hospitals due to the difficulty of treating them in local hospitals” and that the death toll was expected to rise from three deaths that they identified. Athr Press reported that among the injured, two of them had their lower limbs (legs) amputated.

According to Rudaw News, quoting the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, one of the four people killed was a “fighter from the armed opposition” while the other three killed were civilians. The Syrian Observatory Observatory for Human Rights and the sources that quoted it where the only ones that identified any of those killed as being militants.

A tweet from @DeirEzzorNow reported that the bombing focused on the hospital surroundings and around the local council in Tal Abyad, and Rudaw News provided the name of the hospital to be Al-Hikma Hospital area. Al Khabour identified “Al-Mashfa Street and the Mall Street in the center of the city” as being struck in the bombing. @ShahbaPress described the area hit as being a popular market while Orient News referred to the bombed area as residential neighborhoods, specifically “Al-Layl neighborhood”.

The majority of sources that reported on the incident attributed the strikes to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF)/Democratic Union Party (PYK). Al Khabour News added that rocket launchers were used in the attack, specifically five rocket-propelled grenades, while Orient News reported that  the militia (Farhad al-Shami) said that the bombing came via a drone. According to Halab Today, the SDF denied responsibility for the bombing, stating that the bombing had been carried out by an “unidentified drone”.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Al-Halisi خالد الحليسي
34 years old male killed
Hajj "Abdi Al-Hamran" الحاج "عبدي الحمران"
Age unknown male killed
Wassim Al-Barhou وسيم البرهو
Age unknown male killed
Bashar Al-Barhou بشار البرهو
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • 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 attacker
    YPG
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (22) [ collapse]

  • One of the victims of the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @DeirEzzorNow)
  • One of the victims of the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @DeirEzzorNow)
  • Damage caused by the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @DeirEzzorNow)
  • Khaled Al-Halisi, 34 years old, killed in alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by in Tal Abyad via Facebook)
  • Tal Abyad/ Gary Spi Dead and wounded as a result of unknown bombardment on the city of Tal Abyad. According to medical sources, 3 deaths and 6 injuries were reported as a preliminary outcome. Known from the two dead brothers, "Wassim Al-Barhou and Bashar Al-Barhou" and Khaled Jassim Al-Halisi.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of one of the victims killed in alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by in Cudi Rojava via Facebook)
  • Damage caused by the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @syr_television)
  • Alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • One of the victims of the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @HASAKHNNEWS via Facebook)
  • Our people in Tal Abyad, may God bestow your condolences May God have mercy on the dead and heal the wounded
  • One of the missiles that struck the city of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @77Mikiy)
  • One of the missiles that struck the city of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @77Mikiy)
  • One of the missiles that struck the city of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @77Mikiy)
  • Funeral for the two brothers, Wassim and Bashar Al-Barhou, killed in the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @wexP2S7t8yGMwRf)
  • Funeral for the two brothers, Wassim and Bashar Al-Barhou, killed in the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @wexP2S7t8yGMwRf)
  • Funeral for the two brothers, Wassim and Bashar Al-Barhou, killed in the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @wexP2S7t8yGMwRf)
  • Funeral for the two brothers, Wassim and Bashar Al-Barhou, killed in the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @wexP2S7t8yGMwRf)
  • Victims of the alleged SDF bombing of Tal Abyad on June 1, 2022. (Image posted by @SN4HR)

Geolocation notes (2) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention the strike in Tal Abyad (تل أبيض). Analysing audio-visual material from sources we have narrowed down the location to these exact coordinates: 36.689111, 38.946356.

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  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources. Imagery Deir Ezzore Now

  • Tagged audio-visual material from sources. Imagery Deir Ezzore Now

YPG Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Airstrike and/or Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 4
  • (1–2 children1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    6–12
  • 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 attacker
    YPG
  • Belligerents reported killed
    0–1

Sources (44) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS510

Incident date

May 22, 2022

Location

المشيرفة , Al Masherfa, Raqqa, Syria

Geolocation

36.41292, 39.11639 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian, a young man, was seriously wounded by alleged Turkish drone strikes near the village of Al-Masherfa on May 22, 2022.

According to Hawar News, a Turkish drone attack injured 25 year old Reda Ali Hussein, who was transferred to Martyr Omar Alloush Hospital in Ain Issa district. The medical staff at Martyr Omar Alloush Hospital told Hawar News that Reda Ali Husseins condition is stable after he was “hit by shrapnel in several parts of his body”, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights referred to his wounds as “serious”.

Xeber News identified the incident as occurring on the outskirts of the village of Al-Masherfa three km south of the M4 International road. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the location was a Syrian Democratic Forces military post.

All of the sources that reported on this incident attributed the strikes to Turkish forces.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Reda Ali Hussein رضا علي حسين
25 years old male injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Graphic image of civilian injured by a drone strike on the village of Al-Mushairfa on May 22, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention Al Masherfa (المشيرفة), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.41292, 39.11639. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI078

Incident date

May 21, 2022

Location

اأغجلر, Aghjalar, Sulaimani, Iraq

Geolocation

35.817025, 44.698458 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least two civilians were killed and at least one other civilian was injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on the road near the village of Tutaqal in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022.

Rudaw News reported that two alleged Turkish drones struck a vehicle traveling in the subdistrict of Aghjalar killing five passengers, including at least two members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Rudaw News quoted the mayor of Aghjalar, Hemin Bahjat, who said “targeted a PKK base and a Toyota Hilux vehicle which carried four passengers who were all killed. According to initial reports, two of the passengers were locals while two others were PKK fighters.” The mayor later added that another person was killed in the attack and that “we could not confirm that there were PKK fighters inside the car, because all the five persons were burnt up”.

Various sources specifically identified the incident as occurring in Tutaqal village, Kurdistan24 adding that it is located “at the foothills of Khal Khalan”. Rudaw News also quoted a resident of Tutaqal village, Halo Zahir, who told Rudaw’s Rawchi Hassan that the vehicle belonged to the PKK. Images posted by Rudaw News show extensive damage to the pickup truck allegedly hit by Turkish drone strikes.

A citizen of the village of Tutaqal told Rudaw News that one of the people killed was named Aram Kaka Khan, who was from the people of Tutaqal, and the second citizen was called Ismael, who was from the village of (Jalamrda) in the borders of Ağcılar district.”

Segirt News reported that the civilians were killed when the came to provide assistance to the PKK fighters who were wounded in the initial bombing, and then all five were killed in the subsequent bombing.

A tweet from @cptiraq laid out the series of events that occurred: “On May 21st , the Turkish war planes bombed Tutaqal village of Aghjalar town at 5:15 a.m. At 9:00 a.m, the mukhtar of Tutaqal, Aram Haji Kaka Khan, and his brother-in-law Ismaeil Ibrahim, went to the area that was bombed earlier that morning. They found three injured PKK guerilla members at the bombing site. Aram tried to drive the injured people to the Aghjalar hospital. But the Turkish drones bombed his vehicle at 9:35 a.m., killing him, his brother-in-law, and the three guerilla members.”

Adil Majeed, relative of the victims, told The New Arab “Early today the Turkish drones were initially targeting some PKK fighters who were based in a rural jungle from Tutaqal village, then the drones were observing all cars in the area. It seems some of the PKK fighters were wounded and they sought help from civilian cars in a nearby road, consequently the drones attacked the pick-up car, and killed two of my cousins who were from working as farmers.” Majeed added that his two cousins were survivors of the 1988 Anfal genocide.

Head of Aghjalar district administration, Hemin Bahjat, told BasNews that “initial reports indicate that at least three of the killed were members of the PKK” and that there were “unconfirmed reports of destruction of a PKK military base near Dutaqal village of Aghjalar, in the vicinity of Chamchamal.” ANF quoted Roj News Agency, which reported that a civilian car was struck on the road between the villages of Tutaqal and Galmurd, resulting in the death of five civilians and another wounded.

A security source in Chamchamal confirmed to Hawar News that the bombing of the village led to the death of “5 citizens and the injury of another”. The source added that the bodies had been transferred to forensic medicine and their identifies had not been identified yet. Segirt quoted a forensic source in Chamchamal who told AFP “two bodies from the people of the Chamchamal area arrived at the city hospital, and then were transferred to the forensic medicine office in Sulaymaniyah.”

According to Rudaw, the official Turkish state news agency Anadolu Agency reported that one of the people killed was a HPG commander named Mehmet Dooganan, also known as ‘Dilxaz Gabar’.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drone strikes to Turkey. Kurdistan24 quoted a local sources that said that “Turkish drones are still flying over the area, which has also prevented Kurdish security forces from entering the area.”

The incident occured at approximately 9:00 am local time.

The victims were named as:

Aram Kaka Khan
Age unknown male killed
Ismaeil Ibrahim
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (11) [ collapse]

  • Map showing the location where the drone strikes occurred, published by Rudaw News
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Destruction to a pickup truck caused by alleged Turkish drone strikes in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Rudaw News)
  • Smoke from the car struck by a drone in Aghjalar on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by Kurdistan24)
  • Two of the victims killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Chamchamal on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by @RebwarAhmad88)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle struck on the road between the villages of Tutaqal (توتاقلي) and Galmurd (جلمورد). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the Tutaqal-Galmurd road are: 35.817025, 44.698458.

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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
    2 – 5
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–2
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    2–3

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI079

Incident date

May 21, 2022

Location

مەخموور, Makhmur, Nineveh, Iraq

Geolocation

35.75382, 43.605244 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one civilian was killed and seven others were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmur refugee camp on May 21, 2022. In addition, one to two alleged members of the PKK were killed in the same incident.

Camp director Nechirvan Mahmoud told AFP that a suspected Turkish drone struck a vehicle in Makhmur refugee camp, killing a resident.

According to @SweeneySteve, at least seven people were injured in the strikes on Makhmour refugee camp. @dersi4m reported that a young man named Haci Mirza Ali who was injured in the same strikes died from his injuries the following day.

BasNews reported that according to a Turkish security source, the person killed was a senior commander of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) named Mehmet Erdogan, codenamed Ahmet Rubar. “The source added that Rubar had directed and overseen the PKK operations in the northern areas of Makhmur, Sulaymaniyah, and Kirkuk since 2021. He used a fake ID card under the name Haji Mirza Ali, the source revealed.” Overall, BasNews identified “several people” as being killed and injured.

A tweet from @nicolas62574020 added that Turkey’s national intelligence organization accused Erdogan of “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order and violating Turkey’s territorial integrity” after joining the PKK in 1990. @SardarSattar added that “several PKK members” were killed in a PKK vehicle.

In contrast to reporting that those killed were militants, Media News reported that the vehicle struck belonged to the civilian and none of the sources specifically refer to Haci Mirza Ali as being a member of the PKK.

The New Arab pointed out that Makhmur refugee camp hosts more than 12,000 Kurdish refugees and that the camp is being sponsored by the United Nations.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), one of the two major political parties in the KRI, released a statement condemning the drone strike: “We call on the Iraqi government to fulfil its constitutional and national obligation to protect Iraqi soil and air space, including the KRI. The Iraqi government should approach the Turkish government about these violations through diplomatic channels. The KRI administration should summon Turkey’s ambassador and communicate to him its discontent with these attacks. There can be no excuse for border violations of this nature, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries.”

All of the sources that report on the incident attributed the drone strikes to Turkey.

The incident occured at approximately 12:00 pm local time.

The victims were named as:

Haci Mirza Ali
Adult male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • Mehmet Erdogan, who was killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmur camp on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by BasNews)
  • Mehmet Erdogan, who was killed in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmur camp on May 21, 2022. Turkey has accused Erdogan of being a member of the PKK. (Image posted by @nicolas62574020)
  • Truck hit by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmur camp on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by @nicolas62574020)
  • Truck hit by alleged Turkish drone strikes on Makhmur camp on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by @nicolas62574020)
  • Residents of Makhmur camp surround the truck hit by alleged Turkish drone strikes on May 21, 2022. (Image posted by @dersi4m)

Geolocation notes (3) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle being struck in Makhmur (مەخموور) refugee camp. Analysing audio-visual material from sources, we have narrowed down the exact location of the strike to these coordinates: 35.75382, 43.605244.

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  • Imagery:
    Medya News

  • Imagery:
    Medya News

  • Imagery:
    Medya News

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
    0 – 1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    7
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1–2

Sources (14) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS505

Incident date

May 11, 2022

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.891028, 38.353611 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

At least one man, named Akram Ostak, was killed and others were wounded in two alleged Turkish drone strikes in and near Kobani on May 11, 2022.

According to Hawar News, Turkish drones his struck two locations in Kobani – south of Kobani on the Aleppo road and in a densely populated neighborhood in the city, resulting in the death of “the national figure, “Akram Ostak“, from the people of Sharnakh state in Bakur (Northern Kurdistan), who went to Rojava in response to the general mobilization, in 2014, during ISIS attack on the city of Kobani.”

Bissan Fm added that “others” were wounded by Turkish drones in Kobani but did not specify how many people were injured or at which location they were injured. North Press Agency also identified “civilians wounded” without giving more details.

Hawar News quoted the Autonomous Administration, which issued a written statement that “a Turkish occupation UAV targeted two sites in the city center of Kobani and the Aleppo-Kobani road with two successive attacks one of them led to martyrdom “Akram Ostak” while the other was limited to material damage.”

Basnews also quoted the Autonomous Administration, who identified the victim as “Akram Ostak, 50 years old. He is a Kurdish opposition member from Turkey. He had spent 10 years in Turkish prisons and then sought refuge in Kobani.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also reported that a man was killed by a Turkish drone that launched strikes on two different locations, a car on Aleppo-Ain Al-Arab (Kobani) road and a house in Ain Al-Arab.

All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the drones to Turkish forces.

The incident occured in the morning.

The victims were named as:

Akram Ostak أكرم ايستك
50 years old male killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by lleged Turkish drone strikes on Kobani on May 11, 2022. (Image posted by North Press Agency)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Kobani (كوباني), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.891028, 38.353611. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    2
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS497

Incident date

April 1, 2022

Location

القحطانية, “M4” international highway, Al-Qahtaniyah town, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

37.003879, 41.536744 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Street level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One person was killed and two others were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on a car traveling on the “M4” international highway near Al-Qahtaniyah town on April 1, 2022. The combatant status of one of the people injured is contested due to his role in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), while the others killed and wounded were identified as members of the SDF.

Hawar News quoted the Syrian Democratic Forces, who “announced that a Turkish occupation drone targeted a car of the Self-Defense Forces, killing one person and injuring two, including the poet Farhad Mardi.” Syria TV reported his condition to be “serious, and he was immediately transferred to a military hospital in the city of Qamishli for treatment.”

The media center of the Syrian Democratic Forces issued a statement: “This afternoon, the occupation launched a drone attack targeting a vehicle belonging to the Self-Defense Forces.  As a result, our comrade Dirar Juma Hamza was martyred and two of our comrades were injured, including the well-known poet Farhad Mardi. The condition of our wounded comrades is good.”

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) described the location of the incident as occurring on the M4 international highway south of Al-Qahtaniyah town, adding that “the car was heading from Al-Tabqah city to Al-Qahtaniyah area to celebrate Assyrian day”.

SOHR also described the poet Farhad Mardi as someone who was “elected to be a member of “Self-Defence” to be a cheerleader for young men”, putting his combatant status into question. However, Syria TV reported that “Mardi is considered one of the first members of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), and he has dozens of songs and poems in support of the party, as well as anti-Turkey and Kurdish parties opposing the PKK”.

According to Syria TV, the vehicle that was hit by the drone strikes was a “a military transport vehicle (van) of the Hyundai H1 type” and that the people in the vehicle were an SDF member, who was killed, and two PKK cadres, who were injured.

All of the sources that reported on the incident blamed Turkish forces and specifically identified a drone as being involved in the attack.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Vehicle destroyed by alleged Turkish drone strikes on a vehicle south of Al-Qahtaniyah town on April 1, 2022. (Image posted by Ajansa Nûçeyan a Firate)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention a vehicle struck on the M4 International Highway (الطريق الدولي (M4)) in the vicinity of Al Qahtaniyah (القحطانية) and Tal Barham (تل برهم). Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further. The generic coordinates for the highway are: 37.003879, 41.536744.

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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
    Unknown
  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Belligerents reported killed
    1
  • Belligerents reported injured
    1

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RUK081

Incident date

March 25, 2022

Location

Дергачі, Dergachi, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Geolocation

50.109589, 36.114197 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

On the night of March 25th 2022, one civilian was killed and up to three injured following a Russian drone and shelling attack in Dergachi. Dergachi House of Culture, a local government building, a hospital, several private houses, and a gas line were damaged leaving part of the city without heating.

All local sources reported one civilian death and varying numbers of injuries. One source on telegram claimed that three civilians were injured. Most Ukrainian news sources and Telegram posts reported at least one civilian injury. In the 24 hours within which the attack happened, Ukrainian sources reported that Russia had opened fire in the direction of Kharkiv over 55 times. UAinfo quoted the head of the Regional State Administration in Kharkiv saying that “Ukrainian soldiers had destroyed a Russian group belonging to the 59th Tank Regiment and that two enemy planes were shot down near Izyum”. No further information is available at this time.

This incident has ACLED’s reference code: UKR53877 and Attacks on health dataset code 34540.

The incident occured during the night.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility, Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (12) [ collapse]

  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by H_saltovka via Telegram)
  • Damage caused by alleged Russian shelling and drone strikes of Dergachi city center on March 25, 2022. (Image posted by Alekseivka_Kharkiv via Telegram)
  • Screenshot of Facebook post by Dermiskrada

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Derhachi (Дергачі), for which the generic coordinates are: 50.109589, 36.114197. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Russian Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Artillery, Drone Strike
  • Civilian infrastructure
    Gas facility, Healthcare facility
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • Civilians reported injured
    1–3
  • 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 attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS496

Incident date

March 15, 2022

Location

قرية الجات, Al Jat village, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.636817, 38.032688 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes on Al-Jat village on March 15, 2022.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a drone struck Al-Jat village in the northeast of Manbij city with several bombs, injuring two civilians.

A Facebook post from Hawar News quoted the media center of the Manbij Military Council, who said that Turkish forces bombed multiple villages northeast of the city of Manbij, without mentioning any casualties.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al Jat (الجات), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.636817, 38.032688. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

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
    Unknown
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (3) [ collapse]