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 Date Publication Date

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

Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

TS638

Location

تربة سبيه, several oil wells and Kardahol oil station in the Tirbe Spiyeh district, northern side of Qamishlo canton, Al Hassakah, Syria
During the evening of Thursday, October 5, 2023, an alleged Turkish airstrike on several oil wells (stations), including Kardahol oil station, in the countryside of Tirbe Spiyeh in Qamishlo canton, Syria, reportedly killed a 55-year-old man, Muhammad Al-Aliwi (Abu Hussein), and injured his son Mutasim Al-Aliwi and another 35-year-old man. Facebook user Ela Hiso shared…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike
Infrastructure
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

TS639

Location

خربة خوي, Kherbet Khoy (Khirbet Khowi), Amuda district, Qamishlo Canton, Al Hassakah, Syria
On Friday, October 6, 2023, several prominent local media outlets including Hawar News Agency, Alhurra News, Alyaum TV, and ANF News conveyed that two civilians were reportedly seriously injured in a bombardment allegedly perpetrated by the Turkish military on the village of Kherbet Khoy in the outskirts of Amuda district of Qamishlo Canton, in the…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
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

TS641

Location

قرية جورين, Jurin village, Hama, Syria
On October 5, shelling by militants affiliated with Turkish forces of the town of Jurin in the western Syrian countryside near Hama killed two civilians, including a child, and injured at least one other, a woman. One outlet, Al Ghab news, shared a photo of what appears to be the child killed in the attack,…

Summary

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

Incident Date

5 October 2023

Incident Code

TS642

Location

مدينة نبل, Nubul, Aleppo, Syria
On 5 October 2023, a civilian was killed and "dozens" of others were injured by alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Nubul. Fox Press reported that a civilian was killed and several others were injured when Turkish forces and their factions allegedly shelled the city of Nubul at dawn. According to Nubul City News,…

Summary

Published
5 October 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
12–24
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 October 2023

Incident Code

TS633

Location

بلدة صفيا, the neighborhood of Safia in the city of Hasakah, Al Hassakah, Syria
On October 4, 2023, four civilians - four men - were reportedly injured by Turkish drone strikes on a factory, in Safia neighborhood, Hasakah town, according to most local sources. Initial reporting by HawarNews indicated that 'two factory workers were wounded, as the drone was hovering in the area', making it difficult for 'ambulances to…

Summary

Published
4 October 2023
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
4
Military actors reported killed
0–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident