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 Date Publication Date

Incident Date

27 February 2018

Incident Code

TS232

Location

يلنقوز, Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
Two named civilians died in an alleged Turkish shelling of Yilanguz village, Syria, local media reported. According to Rumaf, “The Turkish bombardment targeted the village of Jilanguz in the district of Jendiris with artillery, which led to the death of the citizen. The source published very graphic images of the victim. The victim was also…

Summary

Published
27 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 February 2018

Incident Code

TS231

Location

جنديرس, Jindires town, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians died and three more were wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Jindires town, Syria, according to local media. IC Afrin Resistance reported: “The Turkish army is shelling the surroundings of Jinderese center/ Jinderese district. At least two civilians were killed and three civilians were injured”. According to SDF Press, “the army of…

Summary

Published
27 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2018

Incident Code

TS230

Location

جيلمية, Celemeye, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
Local media reported the injury of one civilian in an alleged Turkish shelling of Celemeye, Syria. According to SDF Press, Turkey fired mortar shells on the village, “causing civilian casualties”. 7al reported that “the administration of the hospital Afrin said that the civilian Mohammed Omar Hamo (48 years) arrived at the hospital with several shrapnel…

Summary

Published
26 February 2018
Civilians reported injured
1–10
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 February 2018

Incident Code

TS229

Location

يلنقوز, Yilanguz village, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
At least two civilians including children died and a minimum of three other civilians were wounded in an alleged Turkish air strike on Yilanguz village, according to local media. The majority of sources said that a family of five died. One source (Evlin.Hassan) reported that “dozens were killed and wounded”. IC Arrin Resistance tweeted a…

Summary

Published
26 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
2–12
Civilians reported injured
3–12
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 February 2018

Incident Code

TS228

Location

حج خليل, Haj Khalil village, Rajo district, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian male was wounded in an alleged Turkish shelling of Haj Khalil, local media said. According to Hawar News, “an elderly man has critically been wounded in Haj Khalil village in Rajo area due to the Turkish occupation army’s artillery bombing on the village. Sources added that the victim was transferred to Afrin hospital…

Summary

Published
25 February 2018
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 February 2018

Incident Code

TS227

Location

عفرين, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
The Kurdish activist Claudia reported that a civilian on a motorbike was killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike in Afrin, Syria. The tweet said that “he was bringing some household items (a cylinder of gas and some food) to his family but the brutality of the invaders prevented his arrival to his family”. Afrin Now…

Summary

Published
24 February 2018
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident