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 DatePublication Date

Incident Date

22 July 2022

Incident Code

TS529

Location

نبل الخطيب, Nubl Al Khatib, Hama, Syria
One woman and a young man were killed, and five others were reported injured, in an alleged rocket attack by militant organisation National Front for Liberation on the village of Nubl al-Khatib and the Jurin area, west of Hama, Syria, on July 22nd 2022, according to local sources. The group, National Front for Liberation, are…

Summary

Published
22 July 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

21 July 2022

Incident Code

TS527

Location

أبو نيتولة, Abu Naytulah, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Abo Naitola village on July 21, 2022. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, two civilians were injured when alleged Turkish artillery shells hit Abo Naitola village in the Raqqa countryside. Both Xeber24 and the Media Office of North Syria reported that Turkish forces were…

Summary

Published
21 July 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 July 2022

Incident Code

TI086

Location

برخ, Parkh, Duhok, Iraq
Between eight and 10 civilians, including three children, were killed and up to 45 others, including four women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish bombing of the village of Parkh on July 20, 2022. According to BasNews, five tourists were killed and 15 others were injured by Turkish shelling of a summer resort…

Summary

Published
20 July 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
8–10
Civilians reported injured
20–45
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

18 July 2022

Incident Code

TS526

Location

مياسة, Mayasa, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian, a woman, was injured in alleged Turkish  rocket attacks on the village of Mayasa on July 18, 2022. According to Hawar News, a woman was injured in Mayasa village as a result of Turkish bombing in Afrin. The correspondent for Hawar News also identified the woman injured as a Kurdish citizen…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 July 2022

Incident Code

TI085

Location

بوابة الشام, Bab Al Sham, Nineveh, Iraq
At least five people were alleged killed and two others wounded in a drone strike in western Mosul on July 17, 2022. One woman and three men were reported killed in the attack, in a drone that state security services claimed to belong to Turkish forces. Sources were conflicted as to whether or not those…

Summary

Published
17 July 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
5
Civilians reported injured
2
Military actors reported killed
0–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 July 2022

Incident Code

TS525

Location

ابين, Abin, Aleppo, Syria
Two young women were injured in alleged Turkish shelling Abin village in Afrin district on July 5, 2022. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Turkish forces bombarded Sherawa district with more than 10 artillery shells, causing the injury of a woman, in addition to physical damage. North Press Agency provided the names of…

Summary

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