Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

Belligerent
Turkish Military
Country
Iraq
Syria
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
289 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

TS549

Incident date

August 16, 2022

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Hassakah, Syria

Geolocation

36.6606, 40.3714 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Three civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Tal Tamr and the vicinity on August 16, 2022.

Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish) released a statement alleging that Turkish shelling of Tal Tamr and its vicinity resulted in the injury of three civilians to varying degrees. There were no other independent reports of civilian harm.

Khabour posted on Facebook that Turkish forces bombed PYD/PKK militia positions in the vicinity of Tal Tamr city without providing any details of casualties.

A Facebook post from Nûçeyên Miştenûr provided information that a North Press reporter quoted a military source as saying that the Turkish forces and the armed opposition factions loyal to him targeted the villages of “Al Taweelah, Al Kozliya, Tal al-Laban, Umm al-Khair, and al-Salmasa” in the countryside of Tal Tamer, north of Hasaka, with heavy artillery and mortars.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • 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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (6) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the town of Tal Tamr (تل تمر) and its vicinity, for which the generic coordinates are: 36.6606, 40.3714. 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
    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
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    Turkish Military

Incident Code

TS585

Incident date

January 18, 2023

Location

القحطانية , Al-Qahtaniya Road in the countryside of Al-Hassakah, Al-Hassakah, Syria

Airwars assessment

Three civilians, including a child died from injuries sustained during an alleged Turkish drone strike on Al-Qahtaniya Road in Al-Hasakah on January 18, 2023. One other civilian may have also been injured.

On January 18th 2023, a civilian was reportedly killed by a Turkish drone strike on a vehicle Al-Qahtaniya Road, in Al-Hasakah countryside. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) added that the civilian killed was the driver and that the attack occurred in the afternoon.

According to Hawar News, one of the civilians wounded is named Ahmed Al-Salem, a 45 year old from the village of Girê Merk who was near the vehicle that was struck with the drone. Hawar News added that others were injured at the time, and that Ahmed was taken to a hospital in Qamishlo for treatment.

On January 20th, SOHR announced that a 12 year old child died of the wounds he sustained in the drone strike of the car. برجاف – FM added that this brought the death toll to two.

Hawar News provided the name of the child killed: Ahmed Abdel-Ghani Al-Salem. Hawar added that Ahmed received an injury to his head from shrapnel and later died from his injuries, adding that he was from the villages of the countryside of Tal Hamid district and that his family had been working on the Ari farm, which is close to the strike location. It is unclear if the child Ahmed is the same person as the injured man earlier referenced by Hawar with the wrong age or if the two victims are related.

On January 24th, SOHR announce another civilian had died of wounds sustained during the attack. Hawar News provided the name of the civilian that died: Abd al-Rahman Hussein Hussam, from the village of Kahnia Dreij in the Kujarat district of Derik district. SOHR added that Abd had been it by shrapnel in the head as well.

ANF reported the location of the strike as occurring on the road to Qamishlo and Derik at the “Ari” rest house at the junction of the village of Ma’shouq. All of the sources that reported on the incident attributed the casualties to Turkish drones.

The incident occured in the afternoon.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Ahmed Al-Salem
45 years old injured
Ahmed Abdel-Ghani Al-Salem أحمد عبد الغني السالم
12 years old male killed

The victims were named as:

Abd al-Rahman Hussein Hussam عبد الرحمن حسين
Age unknown killed

Summary

  • Strike status
    Likely strike
  • Strike type
    Airstrike, Drone Strike
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (5) [ collapse]

  • ANHA correspondent said that the citizen who was wounded on the Turkish attack on the Qamishlo-Derik road, is called Ahmed Al-Salem.
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Al-Qahtaniya Road on January 18, 2022. (Image posted by Syrian Observatory for Human Rights)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Al-Qahtaniya Road on January 18, 2022. (Image posted by Hawar News)
  • Damage caused by alleged Turkish shelling of Al-Qahtaniya Road on January 18, 2022. (Image posted by ANF)
  • Another injured person died in an air attack of the Turkish occupation on the Qamishlo-Derik road on January 18, succumbing to his wounds.

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
    3
  • (1 child)
  • 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

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS616

Incident date

July 28, 2023

Location

الذوق الكبير, Al-Zouq Al-Kabeer, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.511716, 36.774559 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

In the evening of July 28 2023, a boy was injured by shelling allegedly carried out by the Turkish-backed National Army factions in Al-Zouq Al-Kabeer village / Kondi Mazen Sherawa Afrin, Aleppo Governorate.

According to a Syrian correspondent with Hawar News, the child’s name is Hamad (Muhammad) Khalil, 14 years old. He was brought to a hospital in the town of Al-Zahraa in the countryside of northern Aleppo, however, his health condition remains unknown.

After the incident, the correspondent confirmed that the village, which lies within the Kurdish area of deployment, remained under attack by the Turkish-backed National Army factions. DShK machine guns were also reportedly used.

The incident occured in the evening.

The victims were named as:

Hamad Khalil محمد خليل
14 years old male Child injured

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Al-Zouq Al-Kabeer (الذوق الكبير), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.511716, 36.774559. 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
    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 attacker
    Turkish Military

Sources (5) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS651

Incident date

October 20, 2023

Location

قرية الشيخ عيسى, Sheikh Esa,  the Al-Shahba area, Aleppo countryside, Aleppo, Syria

Airwars assessment

On Friday, October 20th, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery shelling in the village of Sheikh Esa, located in the Al-Shahba area in the northern countryside of Aleppo, injured a young man.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the 22-year-old man, named as Ali Radwan Ahmed, was taken to hospital for treatment for injuries suffered on his arm. ANF news shared an image where his injured arm can be seen.

Sources disclosed that the injury was a part of Turkish shelling across the Al-Shaba District, whilst others reported that the artillery was directed at the Shirawa District, where Kurdish forces are currently deployed.

Where sources identified the belligerent, all sources attributed the strike to the Turkish military.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Ali Radwan Ahmed علي رضوان احمد
22 years old male injured

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Source: ANF news

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • 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 attacker
    Turkish Military
  • Suspected target
    YPG/SDF

Sources (3) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS055

Incident date

January 19, 2017

Location

الباب , Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians died in an alleged Turkish artillery bombardment in Al Bab, according to local media.

According to Aleppo 24: “two members of the civil defence were killed and a number more wounded as a result of the Turkish aviation targeting Al Bab  on Thursday [Jan 19th]. The members of the civil defence died as they came to the aid of victims of a previous bombing”.

There are no other details at this time.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abd al Karim Khalil Al Sheikh Saleh
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed
Mohammad Subhi al Othman
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed
Karmo al Haj Karmo
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed
Ali al Hanan al Karmo
Adult male Halab News named four civilians killed by "Turkish artillery" in Al Bab killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Heavy bombardment of Turkish artillery and warplanes on the city of # Bab and the town of Qbasin in the countryside of Aleppo. (via halhos1)

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab city (الباب ), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (4 men)
  • 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 (6) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TS075

Incident date

February 6, 2017

Location

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.371972, 37.51631 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 12 and 47 civilians, likely from one family, reportedly died in an alleged Turkish shelling on Al Bab, Syria.

LCCSY reported that there was a total of 26 dead in Aleppo on that day, the majority of which in Aleppo and the rest in Al Bab.

The Syrian Network of Human Rights said that “19 civilians, including five children under the age of 18 and four females were killed in shelling by the Turkish forces and warplanes on areas in Al Bab city.”

Alaraby provided the highest toll with 47 civilians dead resulting from over 300 shells that fell on Al Bab. Additionally, 20 people were still expected to be under rubble.

Al Bab 24 reported 27 dead and 30 injured and listed the names.

It added that there might be more victims under the rubble.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (7)

Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed
Al Ghawi family member
killed
Al Ghawi family member
Age unknown killed

Family members (5)

Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed
Family member of Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown Killed while fleeing the city killed

Family members (6)

Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Adult male killed
Wife of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Adult female killed
Said, son of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child male killed
Abd al Basset, son of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child male killed
Daughter of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child female killed
Daughter of Mohammad Tayssir Taleb
Child female killed

Family members (4)

Razzouk al Khudar
Adult male killed
Wife of Razzouk al Khudar
Adult female killed
Child of Razzouk al Khudar
Child killed
Child of Razzouk al Khudar
Child killed

The victims were named as:

Abdallah Hattab
Age unknown male Killed while fleeing the city killed
Ibtissam al Baqi
Age unknown female Killed while fleeing the city killed
Ahmad, son of Hajj Abdallah Abu Kasha
Child Injured in Al Bab a few days ago killed
Khalil Mansour
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 47
  • (5–7 children3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the city of Al Bab (الباب), for which the generic coordinates are: 36.371972, 37.51631. 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

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    12 – 47
  • (5–7 children3–4 women2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    30
  • 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 (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

TI024a IRI002

Incident date

July 10, 2019

Location

ديري, Dere, Erbil, Iraq

Geolocation

37.098683, 43.520804 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One to two civilians, including an 18-year-old girl, were killed and up to four others injured in alleged Turkish or Iranian artillery strikes in the Bradost region of Iraqi Kurdistan on July 10th, 2019 according to local media reports.

Al-Monitor reported that Iranian artillery shelled the Sidakan border area in Erbil province on July 10th killing a civilian and wounding two others.

ANF said both Iran and Turkey carried out strikes in the area that resulted in the deaths of two civilians and injured four others.

Ihsan Chalabi, mayor of Sidakan town, told Al-Monitor: “On [July 10] at 12:10 p.m. local time, on grounds of targeting the Iranian opposition groups in the region, Iranian artillery shelled areas of Barbazin and Dere, and the villages of Dustanan, Zhuzhila and Talan. Unfortunately, a Kurdish girl named Zaitun Qadir, 18 years old, was martyred, and two of her brothers — Ali, 14 years, and Sirwan, aged 23, were severely injured.”

“The civilians were engaged with agricultural work in Dere village when the Islamic Republic of Iran’s artillery hit them. Consequently, all orchards and wild pastures burned and local citizens evacuated the area. We call on both Iran to halt shelling and the Iranian parties to not launch attacks on Iran from our area, for the sake of protecting civilian lives and their properties.”

Mr Chalabi said that Iran has haphazardly shelled the area from time to time, he insisted there were no clear headquarters and bases of Iranian opposition parties in the area.

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) on Wednesday in a statement condemned the bombardment and said it “will not allow its border to be used for attacking and disrupting the security of neighbor countries.”

ANF reported that at 9 am the following day Iran and Turkey continued to bombard the Balakati and Bradost regions throughout the day with howitzers, mortars and katusha rockets aided by Iranian reconnaissance planes.

It was reported that whilst the villagers tried to extinguish the fires caused by the bombardments, hundreds of hectares of land was burnt.

EKurd Daily also reported that a girl was killed and her two brothers injured. According to the source, the Iranian army also shelled the villages of Kudo, Alana, and Gundzhor in Haji Omaran of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The incident occured at 12:10:00 local time.

The victims were named as:

Family members (3)

Zaitun Qadir
18 years old female killed
Ali
14 years old male Brother of Zaitun Qadir injured
Sirwan
23 years old male Brother of Zaitun Qadir injured

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Iranian Military, Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Iranian army shells Bradost sub-district in Iraqi Kurdistan, July 10, 2019. Photo: Screengrab/Rudaw TV
  • A picture showing what is said to be Iranian shelling of Iraqi Kurdistan, seen in an image uploaded July 11, 2019. - Twitter/@PDKIenglish

Geolocation notes

Reports of the incident mention the village of Dere (ديري), for which the generic coordinates are: 37.098683, 43.520804. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the location further.

Iranian Military Assessment:

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

Turkish Military Assessment:

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

Summary

  • Strike status
    Single source claim
  • Strike type
    Artillery
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1 – 2
  • (1 woman)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–4
  • Cause of injury / death
    Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attackers
    Iranian Military, Turkish Military

Sources (4) [ 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]