Turkish Military in Iraq & Syria

Turkey fought numerous military actors after intervening militarily in the Syrian Civil War in 2015, primarily against Kurdish forces but also at times the Islamic State. In northern Iraq, Turkey’s military campaign against Kurdish militant groups has expanded in recent years.

Airwars has documented hundreds of allegations of civilian harm by Turkish strikes against Kurdish-affiliated forces in Iraq and Syria since 2015.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

1,011 – 1,495

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 981 separate alleged incidents.

215 – 242
children likely killed
150 – 170
women likely killed
2,439
likely injured
2,231
named victims

Turkish Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria, originating from 0 separate incidents of civilian harm.

civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
1,754 – 2,486
Locally reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria.
981 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
1,011 – 1,495
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Turkish Military
732 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
116 – 134
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
164 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
326 – 556
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
82 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
301
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
2 seperate alleged incidents
970 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

24 March 2025

Incident Code

TS797

Location

قرية خربة جاموس, a road in the outskirts of the village of Khirbet Jamous, Al-Hassakah, Syria
A 30-year-old man with the family name al-Zaidat was killed by an alleged Turkish drone on the afternoon of Monday, March 24, 2025, while riding his motorcycle on the outskirts of the village of Khirbet Jamous, in the countryside of Hasakah, northeastern Syria. Most sources described al-Zaidat as a civilian. Euphrates Post reported that he…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Motorcycle)
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16–17 March, 2025

Incident Code

TS796

Location

قرية برخ بوطان, a farm between the villages of Qamji and Barkh Botan, in the Kobani countryside, Aleppo, Syria
On the night between Sunday, the 16th, and Monday, the 17th, March 2025, 10 civilian members of one family, including seven children, were killed and up to two were injured by an alleged Turkish airstrike and/or drone attack. According to reports by Hawar News and SOHR, the massacre occurred on a farm between the villages…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Agriculture, Residential (House)
Civilians reported killed
10
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 March 2025

Incident Code

TS795

Location

ناحية صرين, Sarrin Subdistrict, Aleppo, Syria
On Monday, 10 March 2025, a Turkish drone allegedly struck the village of Karaf (also referred to as Jarraf), in the Sarrin area south of Kobani in the Aleppo countryside of Syria, killing one child and injuring two brothers, both minors. Multiple local outlets, including Hawar News, ANF, Ronahi TV, SOHR, VDC, and Jinha Agency,…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 March 2025

Incident Code

TS794

Location

قرية ملحة, Malha, Aleppo, Syria
On Sunday, March 2nd, 2025, a civilian was injured as a result of shelling that was allegedly carried out by the Turkish military. The incident took place in the village of Malha, which is located in the countryside of Sarrin in the Euphrates canton of Syria. At the time of writing, Hawar News, Ronahi TV…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2025

Incident Code

TS792

Location

منطقة الحسكة، منطقة دير الزور, Al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor District, Al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor, Syria
On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., six civilians and four SDF fighters were killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on al-Ruwaished desert south of the city of Shaddadi, in a border region between the districts of al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor in northeastern Syria. This incident was part of a broader military operation involving…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
6
Military actors reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 February 2025

Incident Code

TS790

Location

قرية الزيدية, Al-Zaydiyah, Al-Hasakah, Syria
At 10:00 a.m. local time, on February 14, 2025, an elderly woman, Rahima Sabri (aged 65–80), was killed, and her two sons, Nasr al-Din Hassan Sabri and Ahmed Hassan Sabri, were injured when Turkish forces and allied Syrian factions allegedly shelled their home in al-Zaydiyah village, in the countryside of Zarkan (Abu Rasin), north of…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident