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

22 April 2022

Incident Code

TS502

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Al-Shaheed Kawa neighborhood south of the city of Kobani on April 22, 2022. North Press Agency reported that "A shell landed on houses in the Al-Shaheed Kawa neighborhood, south of the city. As a result, Farhad Muhammad Hassan (28 years) was wounded with shrapnel in the…

Summary

Published
22 April 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

22 April 2022

Incident Code

TS502a

Location

شارع 48، كوباني, Street 48, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
One civilian was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on a shop on Street 48 in the city of Kobani on April 22, 2022. North Press Agency originally put the number of civilians injured at one "slightly injured", identifying the victim as Muhammad Khalil Bako, the owner of a shop on Street 48 that was bombed. "Bako"…

Summary

Published
22 April 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

18 April 2022

Incident Code

TS501

Location

خضراوي, Khadrawi village, Al Hassakah, Syria
One young girl was injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling of the village of Khadrawi on April 18, 2022. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a little girl was injured by Turkish artillery shelling of her family's house in Khadrawi village. SOHR added that "Turkish intensive shelling on the countryside of Tel…

Summary

Published
18 April 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 April 2022

Incident Code

TS499

Location

قرية تل طويله, Tel Tawel village, Al Hassakah, Syria
One civilian was severely injured in alleged Turkish shelling of Tel Tawel village on April 16, 2022. Syrian Observatory for Human Rights activists reported "the severe injury of a Christian leading to the amputation of his leg, due to artillery shelling by Turkish forces on Tel Tawel village". A source in the Tel Tamr Military Council…

Summary

Published
16 April 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 April 2022

Incident Code

TS500

Location

قرية الغازلي, Al-Ghazili village, Raqqa, Syria
One civilian was injured by alleged Turkish artillery shelling of Al-Ghazili village east of Ain Issa on April 16, 2022, reported by Hawar News. According to Hawar News, civilian "Hassan Hamad al-Salama" was wounded by Turkish artillery shelling and "two light bombs", and significant material damage was caused to his house, car and sheep. No…

Summary

Published
16 April 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

6 April 2022

Incident Code

TS498

Location

قرية الاسدية, Al Asadiya village, Al Hassakah, Syria
Between three and five civilians, including up to four children and a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Al-Asadiya on April 6, 2022. According to Hawar News, five people from one family were injured when Turkish forces bombed the village of Al-Asadiya in the countryside of Zarkan district. Records of…

Summary

Published
6 April 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident