Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

An internally displaced Kurdish family in northern Iraq, 2016 (Maranie R. Staab)

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure

Incident date

July 5, 2023

Incident Code

TS608

LOCATION

رأس العين, Ras al Ain, Al Hassakah, Syria

At around noon on the 5th July, 2023, two children were killed and up to seven others, including a woman and a child were injured in an alleged armed clash between two of the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions at the al-Qaws checkpoint at the entrance of the Turkish-occupied city of Ras al Ain in Hasakah.

Summary

First published
July 5, 2023
Last updated
August 7, 2023
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Ground operation
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
5–7
Causes of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
2 named
Geolocation
City
Belligerents reported killed
1–3
Belligerents reported injured
2
View Incident

Incident date

October 5, 2023

Incident Code

TS638

LOCATION

تربة سبيه, several oil wells and Kardahol oil station in the Tirbe Spiyeh district, northern side of Qamishlo canton, Al Hassakah, Syria

During the evening of Thursday, October 5, 2023, an alleged Turkish airstrike on several oil wells (stations), including Kardahol oil station, in the countryside of Tirbe Spiyeh in Qamishlo canton, Syria, reportedly killed a 55-year-old man, Muhammad Al-Aliwi (Abu Hussein), and injured his son Mutasim Al-Aliwi and another 35-year-old man. Facebook user Ela Hiso shared

Summary

First published
October 5, 2023
Last updated
May 7, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian infrastructure
Oil facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2–3
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

December 24, 2023

Incident Code

TS673

LOCATION

محطة الوقود, Qamishlo, Al Hassakah, Syria

On Sunday, December 24th, 2023, an alleged airstrike on the city of Qamishlo in Al-Hassakah Governorate in northeastern Syria reportedly perpetrated by the Turkish military killed a renowned 39-year-old Kurdish cinematographer, Mansour Karimian. Some sources provided a different date and place of his death. According to the New York Kurdish Cultural Center, Mansour was killed

Summary

First published
December 24, 2023
Last updated
July 5, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
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
Turkish Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 25, 2016

Incident Code

TS031

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between two and three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria. Al-Bab Al-Hadath wrote on Facebook: “A woman died last night due to Turkish warplanes shelling in Al-Bab.” Halab News, however, named two dead calling them both adult males. Aleppo AMC only reported artillery shelling but no victims. The Syrian

Summary

First published
December 25, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(1 woman2 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 31, 2017

Incident Code

TS071

LOCATION

تادف, Tedef, Aleppo, Syria

Around three civilians were reportedly killed in Tedef near Al Bab due to Turkish or Syrian regime shelling. Asharq Alarabi reported: “In the governorate of Aleppo, 15 people were killed, eight of them in the shelling of the towns of Tedef, Al Bureij and Al Bab in the governorate’s countryside.” Cyberaman only reported Syrian regime

Summary

First published
January 31, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

November 27, 2016

Incident Code

RS1704

LOCATION

الزهراء , Al Zahra village, Aleppo, Syria

On November 27, 2016, according to the Shaam News Network amongst other local sources, two people were reportedly killed and dozens wounded when an aerial bombing resulted in “several successive explosions” hitting a residential area the town of Zahra, located in the northern countryside of Aleppo, in northwestern Syria. Where sources identified a belligerent, most

Summary

First published
November 27, 2016
Last updated
June 27, 2024
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–12
Cause of injury / death
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

June 5, 2022

Incident Code

TS516

LOCATION

عين عيسى, Abu Naytulah, Raqqa, Syria

At least three men were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Abu Naytulah in Ain Issa on June 5, 2022. Hawar News reported that three civilians were injured in Turkish shelling of the village of Abu Naytulah in Ain Issa. The source added that the injured were transferred to the Chalabiye district

Summary

First published
June 5, 2022
Last updated
July 21, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Incident Code

TS546

LOCATION

قرية زورافا, Zorava village, Aleppo, Syria

A child was killed and up to seven others, including two children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Kobani and surrounding villages on August 16, 2022. The Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish) reported that artillery shelling of the city of Kobani resulted in the

Summary

First published
August 16, 2022
Last updated
August 17, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
2–7
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 19, 2023

Incident Code

TS586

LOCATION

رميلان, Rumailan, Al Hassakah, Syria

A SDF fighter was killed and another person, either another SDF fighter or a civilian, was injured in alleged Turkish drone strikes in the city of Rumailan on January 19, 2023. A Facebook post by قامشلو الحدث Qamislo reported that a young man named Muhammad Diaa al-Din Hajji Muhammad was killed in the attack close

Summary

First published
January 19, 2023
Last updated
August 7, 2023
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 belligerent
YPG
Suspected target
YPG/SDF
Geolocation
Town
Belligerents reported killed
1
Belligerents reported injured
0–1
View Incident

Incident date

July 30, 2023

Incident Code

TS618

LOCATION

قرية تل اللبن, Tal Al-Laban village, Al Hassakah, Syria

Three civilians were injured and civilian property was damaged by heavy artillery shelling in Tal Al-Laban Village in the Tal Tamr countryside of Northwestern Syria on July 30, 2023. The attack is alleged to have been carried out by Turkish military personnel. The three civilians injured were named by Hawar News as Omar Sadiq Sheikh

Summary

First published
July 30, 2023
Last updated
August 24, 2023
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident date

October 22, 2023

Incident Code

TS652

LOCATION

قرية الشيخ عيسى, Sheikh Esa, Aleppo, Syria

In the morning of Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery strike seriously injured a woman in the village of Sheikh Esai n the Al-Shahba countryside, north of Aleppo. According to Alyaum News, civilian property was also damaged by the strike. According to the Human Rights Organization Afrin – Syria, the 22-year-old woman, named

Summary

First published
October 22, 2023
Last updated
April 4, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Artillery
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 28, 2023

Incident Code

TS674

LOCATION

مركز غسيل الكلى, Dialysis Centre, Al Hassakah, Syria

On December 28th, 2023, a 65 year-old kidney patient identified as Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr reportedly died as he could not access treatment, following the reported destruction three days earlier of a dialysis center hit by alleged Turkish air or drone strikes in Qamishlo city. Rojava TV and Ibrahim Sheikho described Ahmed Abd al-Rahman Khadr

Summary

First published
December 28, 2023
Last updated
March 18, 2024
Strike status
Likely strike
Strike type
Airstrike, Drone Strike
Civilian infrastructure
Healthcare facility
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1
(1 man)
Cause of injury / death
Denial of access to/destruction of objects indispensable to survival
Airwars civilian harm grading
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Impact
Healthcare
Impact on services or infrastructure relating to education, health or food supply. See methodology note for details.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
1 named
Geolocation
Nearby landmark
View Incident