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

17 May 2022

Incident Code

TS508

Location

قرية قرطاج, Qartage village, Raqqa, Syria
Five civilians, four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling of the village of Qartage in Ain Issa countryside on May 17, 2022. Hawar News documented the names of the woman and the four children that were injured in the Turkish artillery shelling on Qartage farm south of Ain Issa. The…

Summary

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

Incident Date

13 May 2022

Incident Code

TS507

Location

نبل و الزهراء, Nubl & Zahra districts, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and another civilian, a child, was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on a funeral procession in the towns of of Nubl and Al-Zahra on May 13, 2022. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a child was killed and another child was injured in the shelling…

Summary

Published
13 May 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1–2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 May 2022

Incident Code

TS506

Location

Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
At least two civilians, a woman and a child, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Manbij on May 12, 2022. According to Hawar News, a woman and a child were injured by Turkish shelling of Manbij. Xeber24 reported a similar civilian casualty toll that a woman and a child were injured. Al Etihad Media…

Summary

Published
12 May 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

11 May 2022

Incident Code

TS505

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
At least one man, named Akram Ostak, was killed and others were wounded in two alleged Turkish drone strikes in and near Kobani on May 11, 2022. According to Hawar News, Turkish drones his struck two locations in Kobani - south of Kobani on the Aleppo road and in a densely populated neighborhood in the…

Summary

Published
11 May 2022
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

9 May 2022

Incident Code

TS504

Location

منبجالمحسنلي, Mihsenli village, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling and/or strikes on Mihsenli village in northern Manbij on May 9, 2022. According to Hawar News, a civilian was injured when Turkish forces shelled rural Manbij. A statement released by the Media Office of the Manbij Military Council reported that the civilian was injured in Mihsenli…

Summary

Published
9 May 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

24 April 2022

Incident Code

TS503

Location

قرية بندرخان, Bandar Khan village, Raqqa, Syria
At least one civilian, a 16 year old, was killed and others were injured, including an elderly man, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Bandar Khan village on April 24, 2022. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that a civilian was killed by Turkish artillery shelling of a regime military checkpoint in Bandar…

Summary

Published
24 April 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident