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

4 December 2024

Incident Code

TS745

Location

بالقرب من محطة وقود السيد، مدينة المالكية, Sayyid gas station, Al-Malikiyah, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On Wednesday, December 4th 2024, three civilians were killed and three others, including children, were injured by a drone strike allegedly launched by the Turkish military on a military vehicle in the vicinity of "Ararat" car wash located near the Sayyid gas station in al-Malikiyah (Derik) in the al-Jazeera canton, part of the al-Hasakah region…

Summary

Published
4 December 2024
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Commerce, Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 November 2024

Incident Code

TS735

Location

قرية آقيبة, the village of Aqiba in Shirawa, in the Afrin and Shahba canton, Aleppo, Syria
Haitham Abdul Rahman Issa, a 42-year-old civilian man, was killed, and a number of civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the afternoon of  November 19, 2024, in Aqiba village in the Shirawa district of the city of Afrin in the countryside of Aleppo, Syria. The attack was widely attributed to Turkish…

Summary

Published
19 November 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

Incident Date

19 November 2024

Incident Code

TS736

Location

قرية حربل, the village of Harbal in the Afrin and Shahba, Aleppo, Syria
A number of civilians, including an adult man named Mustafa Abdullah Hassan, were injured on the evening of November 19, 2024, following an artillery shelling on the village of Harbal in Shirawa canton of Syria. The attack had been attributed to Turkish forces and their allied mercenaries, according to ANF News. According to ANF News,…

Summary

Published
19 November 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

29 October 2024

Incident Code

TS734

Location

كفر جنة, Kafr Janna, Aleppo, Syria
During the afternoon of Tuesday, October 29th, 2024, a civilian was killed as a result of being run over by a military vehicle allegedly belonging to members of the Turkish military. The incident took place as the man was returning to his home in the village of Kafr Janna, in the Aleppo Governorate of Syria.…

Summary

Published
29 October 2024
Strike Type
Ground operation
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Run over by vehicle
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2024

Incident Code

TS733

Location

عامودا وجولي, Amuda and Joli, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On Saturday, October 26th, 2024, at least five and up to 17 civilians were injured as a result of the alleged Turkish double-tap airstrikes and/or drone strikes on the city of Amuda and the surrounding village of Joli south of Amuda in the al-Hasakah governorate of Syria. The first strike reportedly injured three members of…

Summary

Published
26 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
5–17
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2024

Incident Code

TS730

Location

قرب معبر عون الدادات في منبج, Vicinity of Dadat crossing, North of Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On October 25, 2024, at least two and up to four civilians, including two children, were injured at the Aoun Dadat crossing in the northern countryside of Manbij Canton, Syria, as a result of artillery shelling and/or drone strikes allegedly perpetrated by the Turkish military. Sources differed on the identity and number of civilians injured…

Summary

Published
25 October 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Artillery
Infrastructure
Transportation (Border crossing)
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident