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

25 January 2017

Incident Code

TS061

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and eight civilians including three women and up to two children died in alleged Turkish shelling on Al Bab, according to sources on the ground. Alsharq Alarabi named three female civilians as killed in "shelling" on Al Bab, but didn't identify the culprit. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "eight civilians…

Summary

Published
25 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–8
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 January 2017

Incident Code

TS062

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Syria
Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef. According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.” However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family…

Summary

Published
25 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 January 2017

Incident Codes

CS459 TS062

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria
Two named children died in either Turkish or Coalition airstrikes on Tadef. According to the Syrian Network “The children So’ad and Jonaid Fares Al Ali died after International Coalition warplanes missiles fired on Tadef town in Aleppo governorate eastern suburbs.” However according to al Bab News, “Turkish planes launched three raids at dawn today killing two from the family…

Summary

Published
25 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

24 January 2017

Incident Code

TS060

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "a woman and her daughter and another civilian woman were killed in shelling by the Turkish forces and airstrikes on areas in al-Bab city". Al Bab 24 reported that "continuous artillery shelling targeted the city [of Al Bab] intermittently the whole day [Jan 24th]. One of the…

Summary

Published
24 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2017

Incident Code

TS059

Location

تل بطنان, Tal Btan, Aleppo, Syria
On January 25th, a single source, Al Bab24, reported: "Rescue teams managed to pull out the bodies of three people from al Othman family. Rasoul al Othman was identified. They were killed a few days ago in Tal Btan, Syria following Turkish artillery shelling." There are no other details at this time.

Summary

Published
23 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2017

Incident Codes

TS057 CS455

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Between six and 15 civilians died including two children and two women and 16 more were wounded in air or artillery strikes on Al Bab, Syria, according to local media - though it was unclear whether Turkey or the US-led Coalition were responsible. Al Bab 24 said that "Al Bab city was exposed to a…

Summary

Published
22 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
6–15
Civilians reported injured
16
Military Actor
Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident