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

14 July 2024

Incident Code

TS701

Location

عين عيسى, M4 international road in the countryside of Ain Issa, Raqqa, northeastern Syria, Raqqa, Syria
During the afternoon of 14 July 2024, a young civilian man named Khaled Reda Haji Abdo was reportedly killed and another young civilian man named Khattab Ramadan Saad was injured when Turkish forces allegedly bombed the M4 international road in the countryside of the town Ain Issa in Raqqa Governorate, northeastern Syria. Multiple news sources reported…

Summary

Published
14 July 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 July 2024

Incident Code

TI109

Location

جبل لولان وسفح جبل شيكويان في منطقة برادوست في أربيل, Mount Loulan and the foot of Mount Shekoyan in the Bradost area of ​​Erbil, Erbil, Iraq
At noon on Friday, July 12th, 2024, the area at the foot of Mount Shekoyan and around Mount Loulan in the Bradost area in Erbil of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region was hit by an alleged Turkish airstrike, injuring two civilians. Multiple news sources reported the time and the location of the incident and that two people…

Summary

Published
12 July 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 July 2024

Incident Code

TI108

Location

قرية الصباحية على الطريق الرابط بين قضاء سنجار وقضاء القيروان غرب مدينة الموصل, Sabahiya village on the road linking Sinjar district and Qayrawan district west of Mosul city, Nineveh, Iraq
On Monday, July 8th, 2024, a declared Turkish drone struck a vehicle belonging to ÇIRA TV and ÇIRA Radio, resulting in the injury of six people, including three media personnel, in Sabahiya village, located on the road linking Sinjar district and Qayrawan district in the western part of Mosul city located in the Nineveh Governorate,…

Summary

Published
8 July 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 June 2024

Incident Codes

TS700 YS179

Location

قرية الدرج, village of Al-Daraj, countryside of Manbij canton, Aleppo, Syria
According to Hawar News, late in the night of Thursday, 27th June 2024, the village of Al-Daraj in the northern countryside of Manbij canton, northeast of Aleppo, Syria, was reportedly hit by an intense alleged Turkish bombardment using heavy artillery, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old local civilian Ibrahim Daraj (Derc) Samo and the injury…

Summary

Published
27 June 2024
Strike Type
Ground operation, Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 May 2024

Incident Code

TS698

Location

Tamim al-Hanwa and Salamasa villages in Tal Hamis countryside,  village of Haram Sheikho near  in the countryside of the city of Qamishlo in the Al-Jazeera District of Hasaka, Al Hasakah, Syria
Fourteen identified civilians, including two women and six children, were injured as a result of the multiple air and/or drone strikes, including a double-tap strike, allegedly perpetrated by the Turkish military on the evening of Friday, May 31st, 2024, in the villages of Tamim al-Hanwa and Salamasa in the Tel Hamis countryside of Qamishlo in…

Summary

Published
12 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported injured
14
Military actors reported killed
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

31 May 2024

Incident Code

TS699

Location

قرية شيخ عيسى, the village of Sheikh Issa, Aleppo, Syria
On the evening of Friday, May 31st, 2024, one civilian was injured by an artillery strike in the village of Sheikh Issa in Aleppo, Syria. The civilian was allegedly injured by artillery shelling by Turkish forces and factions loyal to them in a village in the northern countryside of Aleppo. Several sources, including the Syrian…

Summary

Published
1 June 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident