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

7 October 2023

Incident Code

TI097

Location

مخيم مخمور, Makhmur Camp, Erbil Governorate , Kurdistan, Iraq
On October 7th, 2023, a civilian was killed and at least three civilians—a woman and two boys— were injured after an alleged Turkish drone strike on the Makhmour Camp in the Erbil Governorate of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. The woman, who remains unnamed, was reported to be 72-years-old (born in 1951), and appears to have…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Religious
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

7 October 2023

Incident Code

TS645

Location

نبل و الزهراء, Nubl and Zahra, Aleppo, Syria
On Saturday, October 7th, 2023, between thirteen and more than thirty civilians, including seven children, were injured by an alleged artillery attack by groups linked to the Turkish army (Al-Fateh Al-Mubin, Faylaq al-Sham, Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham). The reported attack damaged civilian homes in the cities of Nubl and Al-Zahraa in the northern Aleppo countryside, reportedly…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
13–31
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7 October 2023

Incident Code

TS646

Location

الرويمية, village Al-Ruwaymiya, Latakia, Latakia, Syria
On Saturday,  October 7th, 2023, a Syrian man named Afif Mali (Mualla) Ibrahim, and his wife Fayrouz Ali Hassan were killed during the shelling of the village Al-Ruwaymiya in the countryside of Latakia allegedly by the military group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, while their two sons and another girl were wounded. According to the local radio…

Summary

Published
7 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

TS640

Location

مستشفى كورونا, Corona Hospital, Al Hassakah, Syria
On 5th October 2023, it was reported by Hawar News and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Press Center that two hospital workers were injured when Turkish airstrikes hit the Corona Hospital in the village of Tel Fara ("Kri Fara" village in Kurdish), within the Derik District. According to Roz Press and RIC Arabic, the hospital…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

TS635

Location

قرية جلبية/, M4 international road, 45km southeast from the city of Kobani, near Jalabiya (Kharab Ashk) village, Aleppo, Syria
At 10:45 in the morning on Thursday, 5th October 2023, Turkish drone strikes allegedly killed two civilian men riding a motorcycle on the M4 international road, 45 km southeast from the city of Kobani, and injured up to two other civilians. According to the local sources, the incident happened near the village of Jalabiya (Kharab…

Summary

Published
5 October 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

5 October 2023

Incident Code

TS636

Location

بلدة صرين, village of Qafsef, southwest of Sarin, Sarin, Syria
Three civilian men were killed and two others were injured in the village of Qafsef located southwest of Sarin at 10:45 AM on Friday, October 5, 2023, by an alleged drone strike by Turkish forces. Hawar News initially reported one civilian dead and two wounded, while other sources -- including Kobane FM -- reported three…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident