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

March 14, 2018

Incident Code

TS272

LOCATION

ترينيدة, Trinide village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

According to multiple sources, up to four civilians including a child were killed, and at least five children from one family were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Trinide village, Syria. Only one single source reported the death of four civilians for this incident. According to Xeber, artillery shelled the village of Trinide and resulted

Summary

First published
March 14, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 4
(0–1 children)
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, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

March 22, 2018

Incident Code

TI012

LOCATION

Villages in Choman district, Erbil, Iraq

Four civilians died and 10 more were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on villages in the Choman area of Iraqi Kurdistan, local sources reported. According to IC Afrin Resistance, the “Turkish army’s attacks and #TurkishWarCrimes are spreading: Yesterday night at 1:05 am Turkish air-forces bombarded villages in the district Qesre of Erbil (South #Kurdistan /

Summary

First published
March 22, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike type
Airstrike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
10
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
Belligerents reported killed
2
View Incident

Incident date

January 19, 2017

Incident Code

TS055

LOCATION

الباب , Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

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

Summary

First published
January 19, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
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 belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
4 named
View Incident

Incident date

December 13, 2018

Incident Code

TI020

LOCATION

مخمور, Makhmour refugee camp, Erbil, Iraq

Four women were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the Rustam Jodi refugee camp in Makhmour, south of Erbil on December 13th 2018, according to local media reports. Rustom Joudi, the governor of Rastam Jodi camp, said that the Turkish shelling, which took place at 21:00 on Thursday, killed four women, three of them from

Summary

First published
December 13, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Strike status
Likely strike
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
4
(4 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
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

February 28, 2018

Incident Code

TS234

LOCATION

ميركان, Mirkan village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Local media reported that between one and three civilians died and three more were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Mirkan village, Syria. Multiple sources named Juan Mohammed Omar as killed. Sources added that three other civilians were wounded. Rumaf named one of these as Fahima Ahmed, 39, who sustained an injury “with shrapnel

Summary

First published
February 28, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
Civilians reported injured
3
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

March 5, 2018

Incident Code

TS245

LOCATION

بربان, Civilian bus at Barbaneh village, Rajo, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

Three civilians including an elderly woman died and 24 others including children and women were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of a bus in the village of Barbaneh, Syria. Sources said that victims were wounded by artillery shrapnel and transferred to Afrin hospital. Reports said that three victims later died. They were named as

Summary

First published
March 5, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 woman2 men)
Civilians reported injured
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
28 named, 1 familiy identified
View Incident

Incident date

January 20, 2018

Incident Code

TS097

LOCATION

الجزيرة, Al Jazeera district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

In an undated event prior to January 26th, the Manbij Military Council reported that, “in the province al Jazira, Turkey used tanks, guns and mortars to shell residential neighborhoods, where nine different shells were documented, resulting in the death of three civilians and one injury.” No additional details are presently known.

Summary

First published
January 20, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
0 – 3
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident date

February 13, 2018

Incident Code

TS192

LOCATION

جنديرس , Heikja, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

As many as three civilians – including two woman and a man – were killed, and six others were wounded in an alleged Trukish airstrike on Heikja village, according to local media. One source claimed that an unspecific number of children were also killed. The two female victims were named as two women. The Kurdish Red Crescent

Summary

First published
February 13, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(0–2 children2 women1 man)
Civilians reported injured
6
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

February 9, 2018

Incident Code

TS171

LOCATION

براكاسة, Barkasa, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

At least three civilians died, and more were wounded in an alleged Turkish airstrike which reportedly struck civilian homes in Barkasa, Syria, according to local media. Xeber24 reported that two families remained under the rubble as a result of the bombing of Turkish aircraft that targeted the homes of villagers. According to SotKurdistan, “there was

Summary

First published
February 9, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
2–3
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

January 25, 2017

Incident Code

CS459 TS062

LOCATION

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria

Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef. According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.” However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family

Summary

First published
January 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
1
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
2 named, 1 familiy identified
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

March 17, 2018

Incident Code

TS281

LOCATION

عفرين, Afrin city, Aleppo, Syria

Three civilians died, and several more were wounded in an alleged Turkish bombing of Afrin city, local media reported. According to ANF, The invading Turkish army continued to massacre civilians on the 57th day of the attacks against Afrin. A building in the city centre was bombed, trapping three civilians in the rubble. One building

Summary

First published
March 17, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
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 21, 2018

Incident Code

TS101

LOCATION

ماريامين, Mariamain and Diwa villages, Aleppo, Syria

Afrin Now reported that three civilians were killed and 13 wounded in an alleged Turkish strike on Mariamain and Diwa villages. According to Almjhar, Hawar, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and Tardous News, two of the victims died in Mariamain’s Shara area, and one in Diwa’s Gendressa quarter. Afrin Now named Ahmad Himmo as

Summary

First published
January 21, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 man)
Civilians reported injured
13
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
14 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 24, 2017

Incident Code

TS060

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, “a woman and her daughter and another civilian woman were killed in shelling by the Turkish forces and airstrikes on areas in al-Bab city”. Al Bab 24 reported that “continuous artillery shelling targeted the city [of Al Bab] intermittently the whole day [Jan 24th]. One of the

Summary

First published
January 24, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 3
(1 child1–2 women)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Turkish Military, US-led Coalition, Russian Military
Named victims
1 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

January 21, 2018

Incident Code

TS102

LOCATION

شيا عفرين, Shya, Aleppo, Syria

A number of civilians were killed in an alleged Turkish aerial bombardement of Shya and its surrounding areas. The Kurdish Red Crescent reported a number of civilians killed and injured in the vicinity of Shya in Afrin canton. A report by Aldiwan said that Turkish airstrikes resulted in “much destruction and many civilians killed in

Summary

First published
January 21, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
3
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

January 25, 2017

Incident Code

TS062

LOCATION

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Syria

Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef. According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.” However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family

Summary

First published
January 25, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(2 children1 woman)
Civilians reported injured
1
Airwars civilian harm grading
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Suspected belligerents
Unknown, Unknown
Named victims
2 named
View Incident

Incident date

February 9, 2018

Incident Code

TS177

LOCATION

شيخ حديد, Sheikh Hadid, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed the occurrence of civilian casualties as a result of the Turkish artillery shelling targeting areas in the Sheikh Hadid area in the western countryside of Afrin. The Observatory later put the number killed in Sheikh Hadid at three. No further details are currently available.  

Summary

First published
February 9, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident date

March 14, 2018

Incident Code

TS273

LOCATION

نبل, Nubl town, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

According to local media, three civilians were killed followed an alleged Turkish airstrike on Nubl town. According to Enabbaladi, the Syrian regime’s media published a statement saying that Turkish planes’ targeted allied positions in Nabal and Zahra, which resulted in a number of civilian martyrs. An image published shows the casualties to be young men.

Summary

First published
March 14, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(0–3 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
View Incident

Incident date

January 9, 2017

Incident Code

TS044

LOCATION

بزاعة , Baza’a town, Aleppo, Syria

Between two and three civilians including a child and a woman died and 12 others were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Baza’a town in the eastern Aleppo countryside, Syria, sources on the ground reported. According to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, “two civilians (a child and a woman) died in a Der’ Al

Summary

First published
January 9, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2 – 3
(1 child1 woman1 man)
Civilians reported injured
12
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 23, 2017

Incident Code

TS059

LOCATION

تل بطنان, Tal Btan, Aleppo, Syria

On January 25th, a single source, Al Bab24, reported: “Rescue teams managed to pull out the bodies of three people from al Othman family. Rasoul al Othman was identified. They were killed a few days ago in Tal Btan, Syria following Turkish artillery shelling.” There are no other details at this time.

Summary

First published
January 23, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(1–3 men)
Airwars civilian harm grading
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Suspected belligerent
Turkish Military
Named victims
1 named
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

December 17, 2016

Incident Code

CS417 TS025

LOCATION

الباب, Al-Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Three unnamed civilian males were reported killed in a Turkish (or less likely Coalition) action at al Bab. The Coalition later denied responsibility. According to Step News, “Turkish planes targeted al Bab, east of Aleppo, with three raids and there are news about casualties.” VDC later reported three unidentfied male civilian deaths – though said

Summary

First published
December 17, 2016
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 men)
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

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

November 14, 2018

Incident Code

TI019

LOCATION

عمادية, Amadiyah, Duhok, Iraq

At least three civilian men were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes targeting the Kurdish district of Amadiyah, Dohuk. No sources mentioned the number of wounded. Several sources identified three victims by name. Ramadan Rikani, a local official of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) added that the victims were “sons of one village, two of them

Summary

First published
November 14, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
3
(3 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
3 named
View Incident

Incident date

January 5, 2017

Incident Code

TS040

LOCATION

الباب, Al Bab, Aleppo, Syria

Two civilians were reportedly killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Al Bab. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights wrote: “And two citizens, including a child, were killed in shelling by Turkish forces on areas in Al Bab city in the northeastern countryside of Aleppo.” The ISIS propaganda outlet Al Raed La Ykazeb Ahlahu

Summary

First published
January 5, 2017
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
2
(1 child)
Civilians reported injured
11–15
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

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

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

January 24, 2018

Incident Code

TS118

LOCATION

راحو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria

One or two civilians died and several more were injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, according to local media. The Smart News Network reported that “a woman was wounded by a Turkish air strike on the town of Raju in the Afrin area of Aleppo, north of the country, receiving treatment in

Summary

First published
January 24, 2018
Last updated
January 18, 2022
Civilian harm reported
Yes
Civilians reported killed
1 – 2
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
1 named
View Incident