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
969 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

12 January 2025

Incident Code

TS770

Location

منطقة الحسكة, Hasakah District, Hasakah Governorate, Syria
One civilian was reportedly killed and two others injured on Sunday, January 12, 2025, when Turkish forces allegedly bombed Jabal Abdul Aziz, north-west of Hasakah, Syria, as reported by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) and Rojnews Agency. The injured were reportedly taken to hospitals in Hasakah. Additionally, multiple sources reported the strike being…

Summary

Published
25 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

11 January 2025

Incident Code

TS768

Location

بير حسو, Bir Hassou, Aleppo, Syria
Two children were injured by alleged Turkish or Turkish-affiliated faction shelling of the village of Bir Hasso on January 11, 2025. The Violations Documentation Centre (VDC) reported that two brothers, Jassim Ali Shawakh (12 years old) and Hani Ali Shawakh (16 years old), were injured when Turkish artillery shelling struck the home of Ali Hasnawi…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 January 2025

Incident Code

TS763

Location

منطقة المالكية, Al-Malikiyah District, Hasakah Governorate, Syria
During the morning of Wednesday, January 8, 2025, a civilian was killed and another was severely injured by two successive alleged Turkish drone strikes while in a Hyundai Santa Fe civilian car. The incident occurred at the intersection of the village of Karki Khajo, which is located in the Jazira Canton, near the city of…

Summary

Published
25 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 January 2025

Incident Code

TS767

Location

خان الجبل, Khan al-Jabal, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On Friday, January 10, 2025, two civilians, a female Kurdish activist and her driver, were killed by an alleged Turkish drone that hit a civilian car in the village of Khan al-Jabal (Khana Seri) in the countryside of the city of al-Malikiyah, located in the north of al-Hasakah governorate in Syria. According to an article…

Summary

Published
25 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

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

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