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

28 January 2025

Incident Code

TS781

Location

صرين, Sarrin, Kobani, Syria
An alleged Turkish drone strike hit a centrally-located market in the city of Sarrin, south of Kobani in Syria during the afternoon on 28 January, 2025, killing at least nine people, including three children and one woman, and injuring up to 20 others, including three children and women. Initial figures were more conservative, estimating six…

Summary

Published
22 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Commerce (Market)
Civilians reported killed
9–13
Civilians reported injured
13–20
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

28 January 2025

Incident Code

TS780

Location

أم حرمل, Umm Harmal, Hasakah, Syria
Three people, including a child, were reported killed with at least nine injured, including a child and four women, after alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Umm Harmal village in the countryside of Abu Rasin (Zarkan), northwest of al-Hasakah, Syria, during the night on 28 January 2025. Those impacted were members of the same extended family.…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential (House)
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
9–12
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 January 2025

Incident Code

TS778

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On the afternoon of Sunday, January 25, 2025, 14 identified civilians, including at least two women, were injured with varying degrees of injuries following an alleged Turkish drone attack which hit a gathering of civilians on the Tishreen Dam located in the vicinity of Manbij, east of Aleppo, Syria. The civilians gathered to protest at…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
14
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 January 2025

Incident Code

TS777

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On the evening of Saturday, January 25, 2025, two civilians, including a young man, were reportedly killed and 21 identified civilians, including at least two women, were injured in an alleged Turkish drone attack which hit a gathering of civilians who were protesting against the ongoing Turkish attacks near the Tishreen Dam located in the…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
21
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2025

Incident Code

TS776

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On the evening of Wednesday, January 22, 2025, two civilians, including a man, were reportedly killed, and more than 22 civilians were injured with varying degrees of injuries, following an alleged Turkish airstrike and/or drone strike which hit a gathering of civilians near the Tishreen Dam located in the vicinity of Manbij, east of Aleppo,…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
23
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 January 2025

Incident Code

TS773

Location

زنوبة, Zenoba, Raqqa, Syria
On January 17, 2025, three children from the same family were reportedly injured in the alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Zenoba, in the northern countryside of Ain Issa, Raqqa governorate of Syria. The shelling led to the injury of three children, identified as Mahmoud al-Muhammad al-Abd (3 years old), Bushra al-Jassim al-Abd (16 years…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident