BEIRUT: Turkish air strikes in northern Syria in late August killed 24 civilians, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday, accusing Ankara of failing to properly identify the target and pro-Kurdish forces of grouping fighters together with civilians. Activists had said at the time that the air strikes on August 24, in the early stages of Turkey’s campaign in Syria, killed civilians. But Turkish state media said that 25 “terrorists” were killed. HRW said that 24 civilians, including six children, were killed. Between 10 and 15 fighters deployed among the civilians were also killed, it added. Turkey has always insisted it is doing the utmost to avoid civilian casualties in Syria and at the time issued a statement saying claims that civilians were targeted or hit in the August 28 air strikes “do not reflect reality”.