QAMISHLI, Syria – Turkey’s Armed Forces appear to have failed to take necessary precautions to avoid civilian casualties in three attacks in northwest Syria in late January 2018, Human Rights Watch said on Friday.



The investigation shows that just in three days 26 civilians, including 17 children were killed. Turkey’s government has claimed no civilians had been killed or hurt during their attack that was launched on 20 January.



Human Rights Watch investigated three attacks in Afrin – on January 21, 27, and 28 – that killed at least 26 civilians, including 17 children.



Among the victims were two displaced families. Human Rights Watch interviewed seven witnesses, including both first responders and victims, reviewed photographs they provided, and carried out an extensive analysis of satellite imagery of the attack sites.



“It appears that vulnerable civilians are facing displacement and death because of the way Turkey’s latest offensive is being conducted,” said Lama Fakih, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Turkey is obligated to take every feasible precaution to avoid harming or killing civilians, and to help them if they want to flee the violence.”



Human Rights Watch sent a letter to Turkey’s defence minister on January 26 with its findings of the civilian deaths but has not received a response.



“The laws of war strictly prohibit attacks targeting civilians or civilian structures, unless they were being used for military purposes, and prohibit indiscriminate attacks, which fail to distinguish between military and civilian targets,” HRW said.



“Attacks must also not be disproportionate, meaning that any anticipated civilian casualties or damage to civilian buildings should not be excessive in light of the concrete military advantage anticipated,” the HRW report added.



If the Turkish armed forces failed to detect the presence of dozens of civilians at the sites it targeted on January 21, 27, and 28 where civilians were killed, this raises serious concerns about how Turkey ascertains whether civilians are in the vicinity of a target and whether they took all feasible precautions to minimize civilian harm, Human Rights Watch said.



“Turkey should thoroughly investigate these strikes, make the findings public, and provide adequate redress to civilian victims or their families. It should hold to account those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law arising from the attacks,” the report said.



“If Turkey is serious about causing no harm to civilians in Syria, then it clearly has to do more – including opening investigations into strikes that have killed civilians and making those reports publicly available,” Fakih said.



The Afrin health council says that in total 176 civilians were massacred in 34 days.

The HRW report disproves the Turkish government claims that no civilians were killed.



Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told the government-funded news agency Anadolu on Thursday that the Turkish army and its affiliated Islamist rebels did not kill any civilians.



“To date, no civilians have died or even been hurt in Turkish Armed Forces operations," he said.