Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

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

Turkey has conducted hundreds of unilateral air and artillery strikes in both Syria and Iraq – as well as a small number of actions as part of the US-led Coalition against so-called Islamic State. From July 2015 in Iraq, occasional unilateral Turkish airstrikes began targeting Kurdish militants in northern Kurdistan. Thirteen months later, the first claimed civilian casualties from Turkish actions were reported at Jeb el-Kussa, Syria. The focus of Ankara’s recent campaign has been twofold. In late 2016 it began an intense unilateral air and ground assault to dislodge ISIS from Al Bab and other areas of Aleppo governorate, during the later stages of Syria’s civil war. Kurdish-held areas and forces were also targeted, particularly during Turkey’s successful attack (in conjunction with local Syrian ground proxies) on the Afrin enclave in early 2018. Overall more than 1,500 civilians have been locally allegedly killed in more than 300 problem Turkish air and artillery strikes in both Syria and Iraq, according to Airwars monitoring.

24 Jul 2015
03 Apr 2025
25 Jul 2015
04 Apr 2025

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

881–1,355

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Turkish Military. These originate from 648 separate alleged incidents.

180–204 children likely killed
128–143 women likely killed
2,118–2,892 likely injured
1,876 named victims

Turkish Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 1 separate incidents of civilian harm.

0 civilians confirmed injured

Alleged deaths 1,611–2,328

Locally reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria.

887 separate alleged incidents

Confirmed or fair
Confirmed: A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Fair: Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
881–1,355

Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Turkish Military.

648 separate alleged incidents

Weak
Weak: Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
116–134

Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.

159 separate alleged incidents

Contested
Contested: Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
313–538

Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.

78 separate alleged incidents

Discounted
Discounted: Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.
301

Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.

2 separate alleged incidents

Reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military strikes in Iraq

Due to large variations in the quality of reporting, Airwars provisionally grades allegations of civilian harm using a standardised methodology across all belligerents and conflicts. The five categories are explained in full on our Methodology page. Individual events are recorded in the Civilian Casualties pages.

Chart legend:

Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

View this chart as:

Best for comparing totals over time
2015201620172018201920202021202220232024202505101520051015200510152005101520051015200246810121416182022242628

Reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military strikes in Syria

Due to large variations in the quality of reporting, Airwars provisionally grades allegations of civilian harm using a standardised methodology across all belligerents and conflicts. The five categories are explained in full on our Methodology page. Individual events are recorded in the Civilian Casualties pages.

Chart legend:

Confirmed
A specific belligerent has accepted responsibility for civilian harm.
Fair
Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
Weak
Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
Contested
Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
Discounted
Those killed were combatants, or other parties most likely responsible.

View this chart as:

Best for comparing totals over time
Battle of Al Bab10 Dec 2016 – 23 Mar 2017
Battle of Daraa12 Feb 2017 – 6 Jun 2017
Battle of Afrin20 Jan 2018 – 18 Mar 2018
2016201720182019202020212022202320242025050100150200250300050100150200250300050100150200250300050100150200250300050100150200250300050100150200250300350400450500550

Reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military strikes in Iraq

Due to large variations in the quality of reporting, Airwars provisionally grades allegations of civilian harm using a standardised methodology across all belligerents and conflicts. The five categories are explained in full on our Methodology page. Individual events are recorded in the Civilian Casualties pages.

Published
May 2023
Country
Iraq
Belligerents
Turkish Military
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation
Languages
English العربية

Reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military strikes in Syria

Due to large variations in the quality of reporting, Airwars provisionally grades allegations of civilian harm using a standardised methodology across all belligerents and conflicts. The five categories are explained in full on our Methodology page. Individual events are recorded in the Civilian Casualties pages.

Published
May 2023
Country
Syria
Belligerents
Turkish Military
Output Type
Bar Chart Visualisation
Languages
English العربية

Turkish Military in Iraq and Syria Casualty Map

Turkey has conducted hundreds of unilateral air and artillery strikes in both Syria and Iraq – as well as a small number of actions as part of the US-led Coalition against so-called Islamic State. From July 2015 in Iraq, occasional unilateral Turkish airstrikes began targeting Kurdish militants in northern Kurdistan. Thirteen months later, the first

Published
September 2022
Country
Iraq Syria
Belligerents
Turkish Military
Output Type
Heatmap Map Visualisation
Languages
English العربية