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

2 October 2021

Incident Code

TS475

Location

قرية معلك, Malak village, Raqqa, Syria
At least one child was injured in alleged Turkish shelling on the village of Malak on October 2, 2021. According to Alyaum TV, a civilian who was tending to his sheep was injured in Turkish shelling of the village of Malak. Xeber 24 reported that the civilian injured was a 16 year old boy named…

Summary

Published
2 October 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

24 September 2021

Incident Code

TI072

Location

هرور, Hiror, Duhok, Iraq
At least one civilian man was injured in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on Hirur on September 24, 2021. According to @kamaran_Mulla, a civilian named Thabt Hussen was severely injured when alleged Turkish shelling landed on his land while we was harvesting pomegranates. At the time of reporting, Thabt was in critical condition and being treated at…

Summary

Published
24 September 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

17 September 2021

Incident Code

TS474

Location

الدبس, Al Dabas, Raqqa, Syria
At least four civilians, including a child, were killed and up to three others were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on the village of Al Dabas on September 17, 2021. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), four people, including a child, were killed by Turkish missile shells while digging tunnels for the…

Summary

Published
17 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
1–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

7–8 September, 2021

Incident Code

TI071

Location

سينة موكة, Sinamoka, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Up to two civilians were killed and up to two others were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the village of Sinamoka, Sulaymaniyah district on September 7, 2021, according to local media reports. According to Roj News, two civilians were injured in the Turkish bombing of the village of Sinamoka that involved three airstrikes. Baghdad…

Summary

Published
7 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

6 September 2021

Incident Code

TS473

Location

الخالدية, Al Khalidiya, Raqqa, Syria
At least one civilian, a young man, was injured in alleged Turkish bombing of the village of Al-Khalidiya on September 6, 2021. According to North Press Agency (NPA), a 28 year old man named Yasser Youssef Hajo was injured by shrapnel when Turkish forces bombed the village of Al-Khalidiya. A medical source in Ain Issa…

Summary

Published
6 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 September 2021

Incident Code

TI070

Location

هرور, Hiror, Duhok, Iraq
Up to three civilians, including two women, were reported injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling on Hirrur on September 4th 2021. There were claims that chemical weapons or white phosphorus were used in the attack. A resident of the village of Hirrur told IQ News, "Turkish artillery bombed our village this evening, as a result…

Summary

Published
4 September 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN)
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident