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

23 November 2022

Incident Code

TS573

Location

الزيدية, Al Zaydiyah, Al Hassakah, Syria
Two civilians were injured by alleged Turkish drone strikes on the village of Al Zaydiyah on November 23, 2022. ANF reported that two people were injured by an explosive-laden drone strike on the village of Al Zaydiyah in Darbasiyah district. ANF added that at the time there was no information on the condition of those…

Summary

Published
23 November 2022
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

23 November 2022

Incident Code

TS572

Location

المصرف, Al Masraf, Al Hassakah, Syria
Three civilians were injured by alleged Turkish airstrikes that struck a civilian car in the village of Masraf on November 23, 2022. ANF reported that three people were injured when Turkish forces bombed a civilian car in the village of Masraf. The injured civilians were transferred to Qamishli Hospital for treatment. Both Hawar News and…

Summary

Published
23 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 November 2022

Incident Code

TS571

Location

علي اغا, Ali Agha, Al Hassakah, Syria
Three civilians were injured by alleged Turkish airstrikes on the village of Ali Agha on November 23, 2022. ANF reported that three people were wounded by Turkish bombardment of the village of Ali Agha in Tal Koçer. Two of the wounded were taken to Derik Hospital, while the other, who suffered a serious injury, was transferred…

Summary

Published
23 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 November 2022

Incident Code

TS574

Location

دوار القرموطي, Al-Qarmouti square. al-Gharbi neighborhood,.Qamishli., Al Hassakah, Syria
On November 23th, 2022, between one to two civilians were reportedly killed and another one injured by a Turkish drone targeting a truck at Al-Qarmouti roundabout (also referred to as "Al-Hilalia roundabout") in Qamishli city in the evening. According to local sources, the truck was completely destroyed by the strike. Sources identified the civilian injured…

Summary

Published
23 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 November 2022

Incident Code

TS570

Location

القحطانية, Terbe Spi (al-Qahtaniyeh) east of the city of Qamishli, Syria
On November 23rd 2022, 6 civilians, including 4 workers and 2 oil engineers were reportedly injured by Turkish airstrikes and/or artillery attacks on a car and on the Tigris Oil Station, in the vicinity of oil fields close to Terbe Spi town (Turba Sabih, Tirbe Spih, al-Qahtaniyeh). Several local sources indicated that Turkish warplanes hit…

Summary

Published
23 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 November 2022

Incident Code

TS569

Location

الحمره, Al-Hamra neighborhood in the center of Tal Tamr district, Al Hassakah, Syria
One young man, Abd al-Rahman Rashid Hassan, aged 17, was injured in a reported Turkish bombardment from a drone which hit the neighbourhood of Al-Hamra, in the centre of Tal Tamr district, Syria, on November 21st 2022. ANHA and other local sources reported that the Turkish drone targeted a car or a military vehicle which…

Summary

Published
21 November 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident