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

24 January 2018

Incident Code

TS122

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
According to Rok online, “a father found his two children who were wounded days after they were displaced from the western town of Jenderes, west of Syria. Their convoy was targeted by the Turkish army and its Islamic militia. Ahmed Khallouf, a father of four children from Jandiers district, who fled to Afrin, said the…

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2018

Incident Code

TS123

Location

شيا عفرين, Shya, Aleppo, Syria
The Kurdish Red Crescent reported that two civilian males were killed and five injured in the vicinity of Shya in Afrin canton. A report shared with Airwars, named the five injured men. No additional details are presently known.

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2018

Incident Code

TS124

Location

جنديرس, Jindires, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
One woman was killed in an alleged Turkish strike on Jindires, according to multiple reports. The victim was named by multiple sources as 42-year-old Amina Sedak. Reports said that the victim had “special needs” and was “mentally impaired”. Most reports claimed "several wounded." There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2018

Incident Code

TS118

Location

راحو, Rajo village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
One or two civilians died and several more were injured in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Rajo village, according to local media. The Smart News Network reported that “a woman was wounded by a Turkish air strike on the town of Raju in the Afrin area of Aleppo, north of the country, receiving treatment in…

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2018

Incident Code

TS119

Location

حمام, Hamam village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
On January 25th, Free Afrin – which published a picture of the victim – reported “the martyrdom of the citizen Hussein Hasek after yesterday’s injury as a result of shelling and firing by the Turkish occupation army on the village of Hamam in the countryside of Afrin”. However according to Rumaf “Hussein Hasek of Hamam…

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2018

Incident Code

TS120

Location

مالكية, Malikya village, Afrin, Aleppo, Syria
Smart News reported that according to a military source, four civilians were injured after “Turkish shelling on the village of Malikya in Aleppo which is under the control of the Kurdish units.” Artafm News later added that "On Thursday, four artillery shells from the Turkish side landed on the outskirts of the village of Kharab…

Summary

Published
24 January 2018
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident