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

1 February 2022

Incident Code

TS487

Location

تقل بقل, Takil Bakil, Al Hassakah, Syria
According to local sources, four people were killed and four to five civilians were injured in Turkish airstrikes in Takil Bakil village in the Derik countryside, in northeastern Syria on February 1st 2022 at 9pm in the evening by two missiles. The Syrian Democratic Forces identified the four people killed as being fighters. According to…

Summary

Published
1 February 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Military actors reported killed
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 January 2022

Incident Code

TS486

Location

العليمات, Alimat, Raqqa, Syria
Four civilians, two women and two children, were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Alimat on January 23, 2022. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the intense missile shelling by Turkish forces resulted in the injury of four civilians, two of whom were in serious condition, in the village of…

Summary

Published
23 January 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2022

Incident Code

TS485

Location

قرية الحدريات, Hadriat village, Raqqa, Syria
Up to five civilians were killed and up to four others were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of the village of Hadriat and other surrounding villages in the countryside of Ain Issa on January 22, 2022. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Turkish bombings of the village of Hadriat resulted in the death…

Summary

Published
22 January 2022
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2–5
Civilians reported injured
2–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 January 2022

Incident Code

TS484

Location

عقيبة, Aqiba, Aleppo, Syria
A least one civilian, a girl, was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Aqiba on January 20, 2022. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a girl was seriously injured when Turkish forces struck the village of Aqiba, in addition to damaging a number of civilians' homes. Both Hawar News and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

8 January 2022

Incident Code

TS483

Location

كوباني, Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian was killed by alleged Turkish airstrikes or drone strikes on Khani village on January 8, 2022. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an elder of Khani village was killed. Hawar News identified the civilian killed as Ibrahim Sharif, known as Ashkar. The villages that were affected by the Turkish bombing were…

Summary

Published
8 January 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 January 2022

Incident Code

TS483a

Location

Qara Mogh, Aleppo, Syria
Seven civilians, including two children, were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes or drone strikes on Kobani and the surrounding villages on January 8, 2022. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, in total one civilian was killed and 12 other civilians, including women and children, were wounded in incidents across Kobani. The injuries varied in…

Summary

Published
8 January 2022
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
6–7
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident