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

9 December 2024

Incident Code

TS750

Location

ناحية الدرباسية, Al-Darbasiyah Subdistrict, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On Monday, December 9, 2024, an alleged Turkish drone strike hit a civilian vehicle between the villages of al-Shor al-Sharqi and al-Gharbi, near the town of Zarkan (Abu Rasin) in the northern countryside of Hasakah, northeast Syria, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to at least two others. While most sources, including…

Summary

Published
9 December 2024
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
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

9 December 2024

Incident Code

TS749

Location

حرمل, Harmal, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On December 9, 2024, a Turkish military drone strike allegedly hit the village of Harmal in the countryside of Zarkan (Abu Rasin), in al-Jazeera canton, resulting in the confirmed killing of one civilian and injuries to two others. The deceased was identified as Muhammad Hassan Hassan (45, Male). According to multiple local news agencies, the…

Summary

Published
9 December 2024
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

9 December 2024

Incident Code

TS751

Location

ناحية مركز عين العرب, Ayn al-Arab Subdistrict, Aleppo, Syria
Two children were reportedly killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling and/or drone strike of Konftar (Kun Aftar, Tarmi) village in the southwestern countryside of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab), in the Aleppo Governorate, Syria, on Monday, 9 December 2024. The names and ages of those killed are not known, although they were referred to in all…

Summary

Published
9 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 December 2024

Incident Code

TS748

Location

المستريحة, Al-Mustariha, Raqqa, Syria
At 11 p.m on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at least 13 and up to 18 people from one family, including at least eight children and two women, were killed and many others were wounded by an alleged Turkish airstrike or drone strike in the village of Al-Mustariha in the Ain Issa countryside, located north of…

Summary

Published
8 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
13–18
Civilians reported injured
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 December 2024

Incident Code

TS747

Location

البوغاز, Al-Boughaz, Aleppo, Syria
On December 5th, 2024, artillery shelling allegedly attributed to Turkish forces and affiliated Syrian National Army factions hit the village of al-Boughaz in the western countryside of Manbij Syria, killing two siblings: Ahmed Ali al-Jaban (20 years old, male) and Zahra Ali al-Jaban (23 years old, female), and injuring a number of civilians. According to the…

Summary

Published
5 December 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 December 2024

Incident Code

TS746

Location

الفارات, Al-Farat, Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday, December 5th, 2024, a civilian woman was killed and two other women were injured in the village of al-Farat in the Manbij district in the Aleppo governorate of Syria in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling. Nadima al-Hussein al-Hamoud, 45 years old, was killed as a result of the incident. ANF, who reported the…

Summary

Published
5 December 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident