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

Incident date

January 13, 2017

Incident Code

TS048 CS443 RS1834

LOCATION

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Between two and 12 civilians were killed, and as many as 22 were wounded, in an air and artillery strike which hit the Daesh controlled area of Tadef, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with two sources blaming the International US led Coalition, two blaming Syrian regime helicopters, and many more

Summary

First published
January 13, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 12
(0–2 children1–2 women)
Civilians reported injured
17–22
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, Russian Military, US-led Coalition
Named victims
6 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 1, 2017

Incident Code

TS037 RS1814

LOCATION

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Between one and 11 civilians were reported killed in alleged air and artillery shelling on Tedef. Sources are conflicted as to who was to blame. According to Syrianewsdesk however, “the shelling on Tadef killed eight people, including five civilians and others belonging to the organisation (Turkish armed forces)”. Between six and ten civilians were wounded in

Summary

First published
January 1, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 11
(5 men)
Civilians reported injured
6–10
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, Russian Military
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 3, 2016

Incident Code

TS038

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

According to local sources, 11 civilians were killed and 26 injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Al Bab, Syria. Al Jazeera posted on Twitter that “11 people were killed and 26 wounded and an ambulance destroyed after Turkish bombardment of the city of Bab in the countryside of eastern Aleppo.” Al Bab Al Hadath

Summary

First published
January 3, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11
Civilians reported injured
26
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

December 31, 2016

Incident Code

TS036

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between six and 11 civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria. LCCSY wrote: “11 martyrs in Aleppo most killed in Al-Bab city due to Turkish bombardment.” Al Bab Al Hadath reported that all 11 people were killed in Al Bab: “11 killed and 28 wounded, the majority are children and women,

Summary

First published
December 31, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 11
(3 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
28
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 26, 2017

Incident Code

TS063 RS1864

LOCATION

مدينة الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

Between four and 10 civilians died, including two children and two women, and up to a another dozen were wounded in air and/or artillery strikes on Al Bab, local media reported. It was unclear who the culprit was – with allegations against Turkey and Russia. Moreover, one report added that regime helicopters were also active

Summary

First published
January 26, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 10
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
6–12
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, Russian Military, Syrian Regime
View Incident

Incident date

October 26, 2016

Incident Code

CS350 TS005e

LOCATION

نعمان, Nu'man, Aleppo, Syria

Ten civilians were killed by alleged Turkish or Coalition airstrikes in the vicinity of Nu’man, according to local sources. The US-led alliance later denied conducing strikes in the vicinity on this date. An initial report by ISIS-controlled propaganda unit Al A’amaq said that “10 civilians [were] killed in American raids on a group of fuel

Summary

First published
October 26, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
10
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident date

January 6, 2017

Incident Code

TS041

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between six and ten civilians died and up to 30 more were wounded in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least six civilians died and others were wounded – including children – in Turkish strikes on Al Bab –

Summary

First published
January 6, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 10
Civilians reported injured
13–30
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

March 2, 2018

Incident Code

TS238

LOCATION

هيلجار جنديرس, Hijlar, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Local media reported that between eight and 10 civilians died and up to 16 more were wounded in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes on Hijlar, Jindires. According to Rok news, “Turkish forces carried out a massacre of civilians in the village of Hujailar in the countryside of northwestern Syria, field sources said. The sources

Summary

First published
March 2, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 10
Civilians reported injured
12–16
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

August 1, 2015

Incident Code

TI002

LOCATION

زرجيلي, Zergele, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

Multiple Turkish airstrikes reportedly killed eight or more residents and injured at least eight others – including a child – in an attack on the village of Zergele in the Kandil Mountains. Alusmaria reported: “Turkish planes today bombed the village of Zergele north of the border, killing eight civilians, wounding ten others and destroying seven

Summary

First published
August 1, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 10
(1 child2 women5–7 men)
Civilians reported injured
8–11
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
Unknown
Named victims
14 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Incident Code

TS128

LOCATION

راجو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Up to nine civilians died and dozens more were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes in Rajo village, according to local media. Reports from Free Afrin said that a family was struck by a reported Turkish strike – killing one civilian and injuring two more. While most sources initially reported the victims

Summary

First published
January 26, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 9
Civilians reported injured
5–24
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
6 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 17, 2017

Incident Code

TS082

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Between four and nine civilians including one woman died in alleged Turkish strikes on Al Bab, according to local media. The victims were also named by Syrian Human Rights Committee, who blamed Turkey as well. In a MTV Lebanon video on February 17th – at 0’15, the voice over states that  “the Turkish army announced that

Summary

First published
February 17, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 9
(1 woman1 man)
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
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 9, 2018

Incident Code

TS260

LOCATION

مريمين, Mariamin, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

According to local media, at least nine civilians including two or three children and one woman died, and between 10 and 17 or more people were wounded following an alleged Turkish air and artillery bombardment of Mariamin, Syria. Afrin Qalb Al-Hadath reported more than seventeen wounded and nine martyrs, including three civilian children in the

Summary

First published
March 9, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 9
(2–3 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
10–17
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

March 13, 2018

Incident Code

TS271

LOCATION

بعدينة, Ba'adina village, Mabeta district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

At least nine civilians died, and more were wounded in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Ba’adina village, Syria, local media reported. Sources said that the bus or motorcade which the victims were travelling in was struck. According to Defend Afrin, “Turkish jets targeted a group of villagers who were returning to their village Bedina of

Summary

First published
March 13, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
Civilians reported injured
2
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

January 12, 2017

Incident Code

TS047 CS441

LOCATION

بزاعة , Beza’a city, Aleppo, Syria

Up to nine civilians including two children from the same family died in an airstrike on Beza’a city, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the US-led Coalition. Aleppo Media Center reported that “the child Hamdo al Bakir and an entire family made up

Summary

First published
January 12, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 9
(2 children3 men)
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Turkish Military
Named victims
5 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 18, 2017

Incident Code

TS054 RS1847a

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

A single source, Halab News, reported eight of the nine civilians in “Russian enemy raids” in Tadef, Syria. It also named the victims. According to Al Jazeera, “The Russian and Turkish air forces, for the first time, carried out a joint operation against militants of the Islamic State Organization in Bab in countryside of, Aleppo,

Summary

First published
January 18, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9
(1 child1 woman)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, Russian Military
Named victims
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 26, 2018

Incident Code

TS127

LOCATION

معبطلي, Ma'abatli village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Between seven and nine civilians from one family died in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Ma’abatli village, according to sources on the ground. The family were reportedly from the city of Idlib. Local media said that three of them remained under the rubble. The story of the family’s death formed the basis of an article

Summary

First published
January 26, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8 – 9
(4 children3 women)
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
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 15, 2017

Incident Code

TS052

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Eight civilians including women, a child and a member of the civil defense died in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al Bab, according to local sources. Al Bab 24 reported that “Hassan Ghazi al Haj, a member of the civil defense in Al Bab died from wounds sustained in Turkish raids on the city.”

Summary

First published
January 15, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(1 child2 women2–4 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
8 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 6, 2017

Incident Code

TS042

LOCATION

العمادية, Al A’mya, Aleppo, Syria

Between three and eight civilians including two children died in artillery and/or air strikes on the Syrian village of Al A’mya in the eastern Aleppo countryside, according to local media – though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the Syrian regime. Halhos1 was among sources blaming Turkey. It

Summary

First published
January 7, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 8
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
2
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

December 6, 2016

Incident Code

CS405 TS018

LOCATION

البزاعة, Al Baza'a, Aleppo, Syria

Multiple sources blamed the US-led Coalition for the deaths of a woman and her seven children at al Baza’a, north east of al Bab. However the Coalition later assessed the claims as ‘Not credible.’ Given Turkey’sd own campaign at the time at Al-Bab, its aircraft may therefore have been responsible. According to Step News “Coalition

Summary

First published
December 6, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
8
(3–7 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
22
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Turkish Military
Named victims
7 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 25, 2017

Incident Code

TS061

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

Between three and eight civilians including three women and up to two children died in alleged Turkish shelling on Al Bab, according to sources on the ground. Alsharq Alarabi named three female civilians as killed in “shelling” on Al Bab, but didn’t identify the culprit. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “eight civilians

Summary

First published
January 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 8
(1 child1–3 women)
Civilians reported injured
2
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

October 2, 2016

Incident Code

CS325 TS004

LOCATION

دابق‎, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria

Between 5 and 8 civilians were reported killed in a Coalition or unilateral Turkish airstrike at Dabiq. According to LCCSY, “eight civilians from one family, mostly women and children, were martyred due to International Coalition warplanes shelling  #Dabiq village in the northern countryside.” Shaam News also said eight died – which it claimed included 5 children

Summary

First published
October 2, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 8
(5 children3 women)
Civilians reported injured
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Turkish Military
Named victims
3 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 10, 2017

Incident Code

TS045

LOCATION

الباب , Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Seven or eight civilians died including one child and as many as 30 more were injured in alleged Turkish air and artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, according to sources on the ground. Ameer Alabaad put the death toll at six civilians with 12 more wounded – “mostly children and women” – in a “Turkish

Summary

First published
January 10, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7 – 8
(1 child1 man)
Civilians reported injured
10–30
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
7 named
View Incident

Incident date

March 15, 2018

Incident Code

TS275

LOCATION

عفرين, Afrin city centre, Aleppo, Syria

Up to eight civilians including children and women died, and five more were wounded in an alleged Turkish bombing of Afrin city centre, according to sources on the ground in Syria. ANF reported: “According to local sources, another civilian was killed and five were wounded in Turkish bombing on Thursday.  Five injured were identified.” Hawar

Summary

First published
March 15, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 8
(0–3 children0–2 women)
Civilians reported injured
5
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 30, 2017

Incident Code

TS069 RS1872

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Between four and seven civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Russian or Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab. Hara FM accused Russia of the attack: “Four people dead and three wounded from one family from Russian bombing of the village Qasr al-Bureij southeast of the city of Al Bab.” The Syrian Network for Human Rights also

Summary

First published
January 30, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4 – 7
(2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

September 20, 2017

Incident Code

TI010

LOCATION

دهوك, Dohuk, Duhok, Iraq

The Kurdistan Regional Government said that seven civilians were killed by Turkish airstrikes on Dohuk village. Skyiraq reported: “The air strikes launched by the Turkish warplanes targeted areas in the province of Dohuk and killed seven civilians.” The government said in a statement that while the citizens were going to do their work on their

Summary

First published
September 20, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
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

January 27, 2017

Incident Code

TS065 RS1865

LOCATION

جب مخزوم , Jeb Makhzoum, Aleppo , Aleppo, Syria

Seven civilians from one family were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish or Russian airstrikes or artillery shelling on Jeb Makhzoum near Al Arima. The Syrian Obseratory for Human Rights said it “learned that a man was killed along with his wife and five of their children who are under the age of eighteen. They were

Summary

First published
January 27, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
7
(5 children1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, Russian Military
View Incident

Incident date

January 23, 2018

Incident Code

TS111

LOCATION

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Up to seven civilians were killed and 49 named people were wounded in the reported Turkish bombing of Jindires in Afrin, according to local sources on the ground. Airwars was initially alerted to the casualty incident by the Afrin Now Facebook page, which detailed the reported casualties and some injured.  On its Facebook page, the

Summary

First published
January 23, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
5 – 7
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
49
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
55 named
View Incident

Incident date

July 23, 2015

Incident Code

CS104

LOCATION

ﺣﻠﺐ, Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria

A reported Coalition airstrike at 3.45pm killed up to seven civilians including two children, at Nahiyat Sereen near Aleppo. One young victim, Mohammad Jassen Al Abou Rakan, was decapitated in the incident, with graphic images of his body widely distributed on social media. Islamic State later published a propaganda video of the event, including interviews

Summary

First published
July 23, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Contested strike
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 7
(2 children)
Civilians reported injured
5
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
US-led Coalition
Suspected targets
Al Qaeda/HTS, ISIS
Named victims
1 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 30, 2016

Incident Code

TS035

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Around six or seven civilians were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Al Bab, Syria, according to LCCSY. It reported that “24 people were killed in Aleppo, the majority by Turkish airstrikes in Al Bab city, Russian warplanes in Tadif and a car bomb in Soran.” Turkey Post and Deutsche Welle only said there were

Summary

First published
December 30, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6 – 7
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident date

October 18, 2016

Incident Code

CS343 TS005C

LOCATION

حساجك, Hassadjek, Aleppo, Syria

At least 6 people were killed by airstrikes in the vicinity of Hassadjek village in Aleppo, though the circumstances were unclear. Initially, Voice of Kurdistan blamed the US-led Coalition for a strike occurring around 3am, which it said left six people dead and four wounded. The Russian Ministry of Defense said that Russian and Syrian government

Summary

First published
October 18, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
6
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
US-led Coalition, Turkish Military
View Incident