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

1,011 – 1,495

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 981 separate alleged incidents.

215 – 242
children likely killed
150 – 170
women likely killed
2,439
likely injured
2,231
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
1,754 – 2,486
Locally reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military actions in Iraq and Syria.
981 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
1,011 – 1,495
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Turkish Military
732 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
970 incidents
Order results by:
Incident DatePublication Date

Incident Date

9 February 2025

Incident Code

TS789

Location

صكيرو, Sakiro, Raqqa, Syria
On Sunday, 2 February 2025, an alleged Turkish airstrike and/or drone strike hit a house in the outskirts of the village of Sakiro in the eastern countryside of Ain Issa in the Raqqa governorate of Syria, killing a 15-year-old boy, identified as Salah Khalaf al-Salama. While the incident was reported by numerous local sources, details…

Summary

Published
24 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential (House)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2025

Incident Code

TS787

Location

عوينة, Awina, Aleppo, Syria
During the afternoon of Saturday, 8 February 2025, a child was killed, and at least eight civilians, including six children and two women, were injured in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling and/or drone strike on the village of Ashma (Awina), located south of Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) in the Aleppo governorate of Syria. The reports on…

Summary

Published
20 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
8–11
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 February 2025

Incident Code

TS788

Location

الخاتونية, Khatouniya, Raqqa, Syria
On Saturday, 8 February 2025, the village of al-Khatuniya - in the vicinity of the town of Al-Jarniya in western Raqqa - was struck in an attack that local outlets consistently attributed to Turkish forces. Multiple reports, including Syria Maskana, Hawarnews, Ronahi and liveuamap, identified Mohammed al-Ahmad al-Murad as the civilian who was mortally wounded…

Summary

Published
20 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or 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

6 February 2025

Incident Code

TS786

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday evening, 6 February 2025, a Turkish drone allegedly struck a civilian convoy of protesters from Kobani heading to the Tishreen Dam, south of Manbij in the Aleppo countryside of Syria. The strike reportedly injured 14 civilians, including at least two women. Early reports from Hawar News, ANF, Ronahi TV, and Alyaum TV put…

Summary

Published
20 November 2025
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Resources (Dam)
Civilians reported injured
14
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2025

Incident Code

TS784

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
A civilian was reportedly killed and three others injured at dawn on Saturday, February 1, 2025, when Turkish forces and/or affiliated armed factions allegedly bombed the Tishreen Dam in the Manbij countryside, east of Aleppo, Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and Basnews. The injured were reportedly transported to nearby hospitals.…

Summary

Published
20 November 2025
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Resources (Dam), Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

1 February 2025

Incident Code

TS785

Location

أشمة, Asthma, Aleppo, Syria
In the village of Asthma, located in the western countryside of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab), Syria, an alleged Turkish airplane bombed a house that belonged to Jamal Ibrahim, destroying it to rubble, on Saturday, February 1, 2025. The incident resulted in injuries to ten individuals, including two women and seven children. Seven of the individuals who…

Summary

Published
20 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident