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

1,009 – 1,493

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 980 separate alleged incidents.

215 – 242
children likely killed
150 – 170
women likely killed
2,439
likely injured
2,230
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
1,752 – 2,484
Locally reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria.
980 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
1,009 – 1,493
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Turkish Military
731 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
969 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

27 June 2019

Incident Code

TI024

Location

سنكاسار, Sangasar, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Three or four civilians of the same family were reportedly killed by an alleged Turkish airstrike on a civilian car on Berker near Sangasar on June 27th, 2019, according to local sources. According to ANF, "Three civilians, including children and women, lost their lives and 5 civilians were injured in the attack. Among those who…

Summary

Published
27 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 June 2019

Incident Code

TI023

Location

زين خليل, Zain Khalil, Duhok, Iraq
One civilian was killed and as many as three others wounded in an alleged Turkish airstrike in the Bradost region of Iraqi Kurdistan on June 26th, 2019 according to local media reports. 25-year-old Mansour Nafie lost his life in the attack, while his brother Bashiu Nafie was injured according to Rudaw. ANF reported that as…

Summary

Published
26 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 June 2019

Incident Code

TI022b

Location

Kany Motel, Kany Motel, Duhok, Iraq
The Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraqi Kurdistan reported that two workers of a plant shop were injured in Turkish airstrikes on the town of Amadiya on June 12th, 2019. CPTIK reported: "On June 12, 2019, The Turkish Military dropped a bomb within Amadiya, just a few blocks from The Kany Motel and Tahini Factory. The…

Summary

Published
12 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 June 2019

Incident Code

TS290

Location

شارع السكة, Tal Rifa’at, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was allegedly killed and three more injured in a Turkish artillery strike on Tal Rifa’at. ANF reported: "The Turkish army and allied jihadist terrorists have launched an attack on Tal Rifaat town in the Shehba Canton neighboring the occupied Afrin Canton. The attack with howitzer and mortar fire killed a civilian by the…

Summary

Published
11 June 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 June 2019

Incident Code

TI022

Location

سدكان, Sedkan, Erbil, Iraq
Three Peshmergas, potentially civilian combatants at the time, were injured by an alleged Turkish airstrike on Sedkan. Rudaw said: "Three militants from the Peshmerga were wounded, one of them in a serious condition, as a result of Turkish shelling on Wednesday around the town of "Sedkan" of the city of Erbil in the Kurdistan Region.…

Summary

Published
5 June 2019
Civilians reported injured
0–3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 June 2019

Incident Code

TI022a

Location

Xakurkê, Erbil, Iraq
Four civilians were reportedly injured in Turkish airstrike on Xakurkê in the Qandil mountains. ANF reported: "The villagers, who rushed out to extinguish the fire at 6 am this morning were targeted by Turkish warplanes. Four villagers were wounded in the attack, one of them seriously. Two of the villagers were named locally as Jabir…

Summary

Published
5 June 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident