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

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

Incident Date

20 January 2017

Incident Code

TS056

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Between three and four civilians died and up to 13 more were wounded in alleged Turkish artillery and air strikes on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported. According to Al Bab News, there were "three dead and 11 injured in a continuous Turkish aerial and artillery bombardment of Al Bab". Syria News Desk gave more detail…

Summary

Published
20 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
3–4
Civilians reported injured
11–13
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 January 2017

Incident Code

TS055

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Four civilians died in an alleged Turkish artillery bombardment in Al Bab, according to local media. According to Aleppo 24: "two members of the civil defence were killed and a number more wounded as a result of the Turkish aviation targeting Al Bab  on Thursday [Jan 19th]. The members of the civil defence died as…

Summary

Published
19 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
4
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 January 2017

Incident Codes

TS054 RS1841

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
A single source, Halab News, reported eight of the nine civilians in "Russian enemy raids" in Tadef, Syria. It also named the victims. According to Al Jazeera, "The Russian and Turkish air forces, for the first time, carried out a joint operation against militants of the Islamic State Organization in Bab in countryside of, Aleppo,…

Summary

Published
18 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
9
Military Actor
Russian Military, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 January 2017

Incident Codes

CS447 TS053 RS1839

Location

تادف, Tadif, Aleppo, Syria
Up to thirteen civilians reportedly died in airstrikes at Tadef near al Bab, as heavy clashes continued with ISIL for control of the strategic city. Step News, Al Bab News, Syria News Desk and the Syrian Observatory blamed Turkey for the attack, while LCCSY said Russia was responsible. The Syrian Network instead said that “8…

Summary

Published
17 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
7–13
Civilians reported injured
30
Military Actor
Russian Military, Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

15 January 2017

Incident Code

TS052

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Eight civilians including women, a child and a member of the civil defense died in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al Bab, according to local sources. Al Bab 24 reported that "Hassan Ghazi al Haj, a member of the civil defense in Al Bab died from wounds sustained in Turkish raids on the city."…

Summary

Published
15 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
8
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident