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

23 November 2023

Incident Code

TS660

Location

قرية قرفل, Village of Qarfal, near Ain Essa, Raqqa, Syria
On the 23rd of November, 2023, a number of civilians, reportedly cotton workers, were injured and a car was severely damaged by an alleged Turkish artillery strike on the village of Qarfal, near the town of Ain Issa in Tell Abyad District, to the north of Raqqa, Syria. Several reports on the strike stated that…

Summary

Published
23 November 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 November 2023

Incident Code

TS661

Location

قرية عامودا, Amuda, Hasakah countryside, Al Hasakah, Syria
On the 23rd of November, 2023, an alleged Turkish drone strike on a car reportedly killed one civilian and seriously wounded two others in the town of Amuda, Al-Hasakah Governorate in north-eastern Syria. Amouda News initially identified three wounded civilians as: Munir Abdel Fares, his wife Ronak Suleiman Muhammad, and Joan  (Jwan) Suleiman Muhammad. The following…

Summary

Published
23 November 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
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

23 November 2023

Incident Code

TS662

Location

قرية بوغاز, the village of Al-Bugaz, west of Manbij city, Aleppo, Syria
At nine o’clock in the morning on Thursday, the 23rd of November, 2023, two civilians, including a woman, working as olive farmers, were reportedly injured in an alleged Turkish drone strike that targeted a car in the village of Al-Bugaz, near the city of Manbij in Aleppo Governorate in north-west Syria. On the day following…

Summary

Published
23 November 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 November 2023

Incident Code

TS659

Location

الشورى و تل معروف, Shurak and Tall Maruf, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On November 22nd, 2023, two people, including a 26-year-old man named Hassan Ismail Shaheen, originally from the Girke Legki (alternative spelling Girkê legê) district, were killed and others were injured in a strike allegedly perpetrated with a Turkish drone in Terbet Sabeh in the Qamishlo district (Hassakeh Governorate, Northeastern Syria); the event was reported by…

Summary

Published
22 November 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 November 2023

Incident Code

TS658

Location

قرية عون الدادات, Awn Al-Dadat Village, Aleppo, Syria
On the evening of Monday, November 20th, 2023, at least 13 identified civilians, including one woman, and up to 20 civilians were injured, and a number of civilians were reportedly killed in an artillery strike allegedly carried out by Turkish forces in the village of Aoun Al-Dadat, north of Manbij in Syria. Initial reports cited…

Summary

Published
20 November 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
13–20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 November 2023

Incident Code

TS657

Location

بستان القصر, Bustan Al-Qasr, Aleppo City, Aleppo, Syria
On Saturday, November 4th, 2023, between three and four male children were injured by an alleged Hay’at Tahria al-Sham drone, a group linked to the Turkish military. The children were playing in a small garden near traffic signals in Bustan Al-Qasr neighborhood, in Aleppo city, Syria at the time of the strike. Multiple sources reported…

Summary

Published
4 November 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident