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

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

Incident date

October 11, 2016

Incident Code

CS335 TS005b

LOCATION

تل بطال, Tall Btal, Aleppo, Syria

Between 3 and 4 displaced people were reported killed in camps near Tal Btal, a village south of Ra’i in the Aleppo countryside. It was unclear whether Turkey or the Coalition was responsible. Ramaf reported that an attack hit a camp, claiming “the lives of three martyrs and [left] more than fifteen wounded as a

Summary

First published
October 11, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3 – 4
(0–1 children)
Civilians reported injured
15
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
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

October 8, 2016

Incident Code

CS333 TS005a

LOCATION

دويبق, Dabiq, Aleppo, Syria

Twelve to 14 civilians, including up to seven children and five women, were killed in air raids on the village of Dabiq in Aleppo governorate, according to local reports. It was alleged that both the Coalition and Turkey were responsible. The Syrian Network reported “at least 8 civilians died in International Coalition warplanes missiles fired

Summary

First published
October 8, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
9 – 14
(4–7 children4–5 women)
Civilians reported injured
23
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
8 named, 2 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 4, 2016

Incident Code

CS327 TS005

LOCATION

الثلثانة, Taltanah, Aleppo, Syria

Up to 19 civilians including 3 children were killed – and as many as 41 people injured – when airstrikes hit the village of Al Thaltanah. Multiple reports initially assigned blame to the Coalition or Turkish forces. However, on December 1st 2016 the Coalition conceded it had injured one civilian in the event. The Syrian

Summary

First published
October 4, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
11 – 19
(3 children)
Civilians reported injured
41
Airwars civilian harm grading
Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Known belligerent
US-led Coalition
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
11 named, 4 families identified
View Incident

Incident date

October 3, 2016

Incident Code

TI006

LOCATION

فايده, Fadhiliya, Nineveh, Iraq

Local and governmental sources said Turkish artillery had targeted Al Fadhiliyah village in Bashiqa, north of Mosul, resulting in the deaths of two civilian brothers and four injuries. The Coalition later made clear it did not view Turkish actions in Iraq as being a part of the international alliance’s effort to defeat ISIL. According to

Summary

First published
October 3, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
4
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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
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

August 28, 2016

Incident Code

CS300 TS002

LOCATION

جب الكوسا, Jeb el Kussa, Aleppo, Syria

Twenty people were reported killed and 50 injured after clashes at Jeb el Kussa, south of Jarabulus. According to Al Alam “these people fell during battles between militants and extremist groups backed by Turkey and the so-called “democratic forces of Syria” and armed groups backed by America. The Syrian Observatory confirmed casualties in the ranks of

Summary

First published
August 28, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
20
(2 children2 women)
Civilians reported injured
50
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

August 28, 2016

Incident Code

TS003

LOCATION

ﺍﻟﻌﻤﺎﺭﻧﺔ, Al Armana, Aleppo, Syria

Fifteen to 24 civilians were reported killed in Turkish airstrikes on the town of Al Armana, as invading Turkish forces were said to have turned their attention to Kurdish YPG fighters. Al Hayat newspaper reported as many as twenty civilians were killed.  However, Turkey denied it had killed any non-combatants in the action. According to Reuters

Summary

First published
August 28, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
15 – 24
(4 children)
Civilians reported injured
25
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
24 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

July 17, 2016

Incident Code

TI005

LOCATION

الفاضلية, Fadhiliya, Nineveh, Iraq

A local MP complained that a number of civilians had been killed and injured in fresh Turkish shelling of Fadhiliya village. Salim Juma told NRN News that artillery strikes from a nearby Turkish base at Bashiqa “killed and injured a number of civilians, including women and children.” The MP called on the regional Kurdish government

Summary

First published
July 17, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

March 14, 2016

Incident Code

TS001

LOCATION

جكة, Jakka, Aleppo, Syria

A single source, the Daesh-linked propaganda outlet Al A’amaq Media, reported an alleged ‘friendly fire’ event in the village of al Jakka: “An American plane carries out a raid by mistake on a position for the armed opposition on the outskirts of the village of Jakka in the northern Aleppo countryside, leading to deaths in

Summary

First published
March 14, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, US-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident date

February 4, 2016

Incident Code

TI004

LOCATION

قرية الفاضلية, Fadhiliya, Nineveh, Iraq

Three civilians were reportedly killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Fadhiliya. According to the Iraqi National News Agency, “the bombardment of Fadhiliya village at the foot of Mount Bachik, resulted in the deaths of three civilians and the wounding of two others.” There is currently no other known source available.

Summary

First published
February 4, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Unknown
View Incident

Incident date

September 11, 2015

Incident Code

TI003

LOCATION

قنديل, اقشين, الزاب, Qandil, Avashin and Zap, Nineveh, Iraq

Turkish air forces bombed positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, the army said in a statement. Airstrikes hit mountainous areas in northern Iraq, including Qandil, Avashin and Zap. Turkish authorities said their strikes hit locations of the PKK rebels. However, Kurdish sources in northern Iraq reported via a single source that

Summary

First published
September 11, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Unknown
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

July 25, 2015

Incident Code

TI001

LOCATION

العمادية, Amadiyah, Duhok, Iraq

Three civilians were reportedly injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on Amadiyah, Iraq. Iraqhurr reported intensive bombing on PKK positions in the area and said that it “led to the wounding of three civilians.” Sputnik News also reported Turkish airstrikes in the area but did not mention civilian harm. No additional details are presently known regarding

Summary

First published
July 25, 2015
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
Unknown
Civilians reported injured
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Unknown
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