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

24 October 2024

Incident Code

TS725

Location

منطقة منبج, Manbij District, Aleppo, Syria
On the evening of Thursday, October 24, 2024, up to three children were injured, and a girl was killed by an artillery attack reportedly carried out by the Turkish military. The incident occurred in the village of al-Barhuin, located in the countryside of Manbij, eastern Aleppo, Syria. Initial reports indicated that four civilians were injured,…

Summary

Published
24 October 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential (House)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2024

Incident Code

TS726

Location

روفي, Rofi, Aleppo, Syria
On the evening of Thursday, 24th October 2024, at least seven identified male civilians and up to eight civilians were seriously injured and a civilian man was killed by a bombardment allegedly perpetrated by the Turkish military on the grain silos of the village of Rofi affiliated with the city of Kobani, part of the…

Summary

Published
3 September 2025
Strike Type
Artillery, Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Silo)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
7–8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2024

Incident Code

TS722

Location

منطقة المالكية, Al-Malikiyah District, Al-Hasakah, Syria
At 2:30 am on Thursday, 24th October 2024, seven identified civilians, including at least six men and a teenager, were killed and at least 14 civilians were injured in an airstrike allegedly perpetrated by the Turkish military on a gas/oil station in Al-Suwaydiyah in the Al-Jazeera canton of the Al-Hassakah governorate in northeastern Syria.  All…

Summary

Published
24 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Resources (Gas Facility, Oil Facility)
Civilians reported killed
7–8
Civilians reported injured
14–15
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2024

Incident Code

TS723

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
During the morning of Thursday, October 24th, 2024, a young child was injured as a result of an alleged drone strike by the Turkish military. The incident took place in the city center of Kobani, Syria, with public and service facilities reportedly damaged. A girl named Nadia Mustafa, who was three years old, was injured…

Summary

Published
24 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Resources (Power Station), Commerce (Bakery)
Civilians reported injured
1
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 October 2024

Incident Code

TS724

Location

مخيم تل سوسن وسردم, Village of Tal Susan and Sardam Camp, Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday, October 24th, 2024, two civilians were injured as a result of alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Tal Susan and the vicinity of Sardam Camp in the region of al-Shahba, Aleppo Governorate, Syria. A 65-year-old man named Ahmed Marwan Ahmed was injured as a result of the incident. Hogir Necar on…

Summary

Published
24 October 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 October 2024

Incident Code

TI114

Location

the village of Bari and Digor (Dokri) residential complex, Nineveh, Iraq
Between around 11:00-11:30 PM on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, an alleged Turkish drone strike on the village of Bari and the residential complex Digor (Dokri) in the Shingal District of Iraqi Kurdistan injured a woman named Enstar Khodada Ali Murad in Digor and another civilian in Bari. Roj News reported that the strike on Digor…

Summary

Published
27 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident