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

30 October 2023

Incident Code

TS656

Location

التوخار كبير, Toukhar Kabir, Aleppo, Syria
On Monday, October 30, 2023, an alleged strike by a Turkish military drone reportedly injured a civilian in the village of Tokhar, in the northern countryside of Manbij, close to Aleppo. According to the North Press Agency, the civilian injured in the attack is a 40-year-old man called Saleh Al-Jassem. The incident was initially reported…

Summary

Published
30 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

27 October 2023

Incident Code

TS655

Location

ساحة ازادي, Azadi Square, city of Al-Malikiyah (Dayrik), Qamishlo canton, Al Hassakah, Syria
On Friday, October 27, 2023, an 11-year-old child Ahmed Shaheen was injured alongside a 39-year-old woman Avin Khalil, and later died of his injuries inflicted by an drone strike declared by the Turkish military on the Azadi Square in Al-Malikiyah city, also known as Dayrik, in the Hasakah countryside, Syria, an area under the influence of…

Summary

Published
27 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 October 2023

Incident Code

TS654

Location

الربيعة, Al-Rabiaa, Hama, Syria
At least five identified civilians, including two women and two children, were killed and between two and five civilians were injured in a drone strike on the Al-Rabiaa village of Hama countryside in central Syria, declared by Al-Fateh Al-Mubin, a militia affiliated and supported by the Turkish military, during the evening of Thursday, October 26,…

Summary

Published
26 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military actors reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 October 2023

Incident Code

TS653

Location

village Al Mushairfa in the Ain Issa district, Raqqa, Syria
On the afternoon or evening of Wednesday, October 25th, 2023, alleged Turkish artillery shelling struck the village of Al Mushairfa located 8 km east of the town of Ain Issa, Syria, injuring one civilian and striking grain silos. The injured civilian has been named by most of the sources as a 26-year old Bashar Ahmed…

Summary

Published
25 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 October 2023

Incident Code

TS652

Location

Sheikh Esa, Aleppo, Syria
In the morning of Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, an alleged Turkish artillery strike seriously injured a woman in the village of Sheikh Esai n the Al-Shahba countryside, north of Aleppo. According to Alyaum News, civilian property was also damaged by the strike. According to the Human Rights Organization Afrin - Syria, the 22-year-old woman, named…

Summary

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

Incident Date

20 October 2023

Incident Code

TS650

Location

قرية عقيبة, Akaybah/Ogaybah, Shirawa, Afrin countryside, Aleppo, Syria
On Friday, October 20th, two civilians were injured as a result of alleged Turkish military bombing on the town of Akaybah (Ogaybah in Kurdish). They were injured while working in the fields surrounding the town, and were taken to the closest medical center for treatment. One civilian was identified as 29-year-old Shaima Muhammad Rajab Talib.…

Summary

Published
20 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident