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

14 January 2017

Incident Code

TS051

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Up to five civilians including one child died and more were wounded - including members of the civil defense - in artillery shelling on Al Bab, Syria, local media reported - though many sources didn't identify the culprit. A tweet by a local "Amna Alali" was the only source to attrbute blame to Turkey. Ameer…

Summary

Published
14 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

14 January 2017

Incident Code

TS050

Location

بزاعة, Beza’a city, Aleppo, Syria
One woman died and one man was injured in shelling on Beza’a city, Syria, according to local media. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "a woman was killed and her husband was wounded in Turkish artillery and rocket shelling on areas in Bzaah town near al-Bab city". Al Bab24 reported the death of…

Summary

Published
14 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 January 2017

Incident Code

TS049

Location

الباب, Al Bab city, Aleppo, Syria
Al Bab 24 named Hassan Mohammad al Hussein al Assfour as killed in "Turkish shelling" in Al Bab, Syria. On January 14th, both Amna Alali and Halab Today reported the "death of 12 civilians and wounding of 18 more as a result of a Turkish air and artillery yesterday [Jan 13th] on the town of…

Summary

Published
13 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 January 2017

Incident Codes

TS048 CS443 RS1828

Location

تادف, Tadef, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
Between two and 12 civilians were killed, and as many as 22 were wounded, in an air and artillery strike which hit the Daesh controlled area of Tadef, Aleppo. Sources were conflicted as to who was to blame, with two sources blaming the International US led Coalition, two blaming Syrian regime helicopters, and many more…

Summary

Published
13 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
2–12
Civilians reported injured
17–22
Military Actor
U.S.-led Coalition, Russian Military, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 January 2017

Incident Codes

TS047 CS441

Location

بزاعة, Beza’a city, Aleppo, Syria
Up to nine civilians including two children from the same family died in an airstrike on Beza'a city, according to local media - though sources were conflicted as to whether this was the work of Turkey or the US-led Coalition. Aleppo Media Center reported that “the child Hamdo al Bakir and an entire family made up…

Summary

Published
12 January 2017
Civilians reported killed
7–9
Civilians reported injured
2–6
Military Actor
Turkish Military, U.S.-led Coalition
View Incident

Incident Date

12 January 2017

Incident Code

TS046

Location

التفريعة, Al Tafri’a village, Aleppo, Syria
A single source, Syria News Desk, reported that "four civilians were killed by Turkish raids in the village of al Tafri’a north of Baza’ah which is controlled by IS-east of Aleppo." No further details are currently available.

Summary

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