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

30 January 2025

Incident Code

TS783

Location

الحيمر, Al-Haimer, Raqqa, Syria
Two farmers were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of their agricultural lands in the village of al-Haimer, Syria on January 30, 2025. Hawar News reported that two farmers from the al-Ubaid family had been injured by Turkish shelling while watering their agricultural lands in the village of al-Haimer. The two injured were named as Ubaid…

Summary

Published
22 September 2025
Infrastructure
Agriculture (Agricultural Land)
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2025

Incident Code

TS781

Location

صرين, Sarrin, Kobani, Syria
An alleged Turkish drone strike hit a centrally-located market in the city of Sarrin, south of Kobani in Syria during the afternoon on 28 January, 2025, killing at least nine people, including three children and one woman, and injuring up to 20 others, including three children and women. Initial figures were more conservative, estimating six…

Summary

Published
22 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
9–13
Civilians reported injured
13–20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2025

Incident Code

TS782

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilians was killed and at least one other was injured by a declared Turkish airstrike in the city of Kobani on 28 January, 2025. Azad Ali Muhammad was reported killed by all sources who named victims. However, sources diverged on the identity of the other victim. While many sources named Shiro Obaid…

Summary

Published
22 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1–3
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2025

Incident Code

TS780

Location

أم حرمل, Umm Harmal, Hasakah, Syria
Three people, including a child, were reported killed with at least nine injured, including a child and four women, after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Umm Harmal village in the countryside of Abu Rasin (Zarkan), northwest of al-Hasakah, Syria, during the night on 28 January 2025. Those impacted were members of the same extended family.…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential (House)
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
9–12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2025

Incident Code

TS779

Location

ناحية عين عيسى, Ain Issa subdistrict, Raqqa, Syria
At least two children were killed and a young woman and young man were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the village of al-Jammas in the countryside of Ain Issa in Syria on January 26, 2025. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) initially reported that a 12-year-old girl had been killed and a child…

Summary

Published
25 September 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2025

Incident Code

TS778

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On the afternoon of Sunday, January 25, 2025, 14 identified civilians, including at least two women, were injured with varying degrees of injuries following an alleged Turkish drone attack which hit a gathering of civilians on the Tishreen Dam located in the vicinity of Manbij, east of Aleppo, Syria. The civilians gathered to protest at…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
14
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident