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

19 August 2022

Incident Code

TS552

Location

غرناطه, Gharnata, Aleppo, Syria
A 13 year old girl was killed in alleged Turkish shelling of Gharnata village on August 19, 2022. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights specified that the young girl under the age of 18 was injured in Gharnata village and later reported that the girl had died the next day of her injuries. A Facebook post by…

Summary

Published
19 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 August 2022

Incident Code

TS551

Location

النيربية, Al Nayribiyah, Aleppo, Syria
An elderly woman was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Al Nayribiyah village on August 19, 2022. Hawar News Agency reported that a woman and a child were injured as a result of Turkish forces bombing the villages of the countryside of Al-Shahba canton, including the villages of Karamel, Hassin, Ain Deqina and Baylouniyah, in…

Summary

Published
19 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 August 2022

Incident Code

TS550

Location

شيموك, Shamouka, Al Hassakah, Syria
Five girls were killed and at least 11 others, mostly children, were injured when an alleged Turkish drone struck an educational facility in Shimoke village on August 19, 2022. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that four girls under the age of 18 were killed and 11 others were injured in Turkish drone…

Summary

Published
19 August 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Education
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
11–17
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 August 2022

Incident Code

TS548

Location

بينه, Benna, Aleppo, Syria
A displaced child was injured in the village of Benna on August 16, 2022. According to the correspondent for Hawar News Agency, a child displaced from the occupied village of Basel in Afrin was injured by Turkish shelling of the village of Benna in the Sherawa District. The child Ahmed Imad Ibish, 15 years old,…

Summary

Published
16 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 August 2022

Incident Code

TS547

Location

زركان, Zarkan, Al Hassakah, Syria
A child was injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the Zarkan sub-district on August 16, 2022. Hawar News Agency reported that in the Zarkan sub-district, 11 year old Tamim Faisal Hamad was wounded by Turkish shelling on the district’s center. There was no other information available about victims of the shelling. North Press Agency cited a…

Summary

Published
16 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

16 August 2022

Incident Code

TS546

Location

قرية زورافا, Zorava village, Aleppo, Syria
A child was killed and up to seven others, including two children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the city of Kobani and surrounding villages on August 16, 2022. The Internal Security Forces in North and East Syria (Asayish) reported that artillery shelling of the city of Kobani resulted in the…

Summary

Published
16 August 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident