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 September 2021

Incident Code

TI068

Location

سيدان, Sidan, Duhok, Iraq
Between two and three civilians were injured in an alleged Turkish strike on Sidan village, Amadiya District on September 2, 2021. Alyaum TV and Christian Peacemaker Teams reported that Haji Abdullah, 55, and Saber Omar, 45, were wounded. A security source told Mawazine News that the Turkish bombing resulted in the injury of three civilians.…

Summary

Published
2 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

2 September 2021

Incident Code

TI069

Location

بارة, Bara, Nineveh, Iraq
At least three people were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Bara village on September 2, 2021. Security sources told Shafaq News Agency that "Turkish aircraft bombed the headquarters of the Asayish Yazidkhan forces, west of Mount Sinjar" and that the targeted location was close to a site of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). However, another security source…

Summary

Published
2 September 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 August 2021

Incident Codes

TI067 YI002

Location

مخيم قاديا, Qadia Camp, Duhok, Iraq
Two children were killed and three to four others, including two children and an elderly man, were injured - all from the same family - when an alleged Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) or Turkish IED exploded in Qadiya refugee camp. According to the Kurdistan Democratic Communities Union (KCK), "in the late evening hours of August…

Summary

Published
30 August 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
3–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Planted explosives and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
Military Actor
YPG, Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 August 2021

Incident Code

TS472

Location

الدردارة, Al Dardarah , Al Hassakah, Syria
At least two civilians, including a woman, were injured in alleged Turkish shelling of al-Dardarah village on August 23, 2021. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, "a young man and a woman were injured due to Turkish bombardment on al-Dardarah village". Nabd News provided the names of the civilians injured: Amena Al Faris…

Summary

Published
23 August 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

20 August 2021

Incident Codes

TI066 YI001

Location

بنكي, Banke village, Duhok, Iraq
Two Iraqi tourists were killed in an alleged Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) IED or Turkish air or artillery strike near the village of Banke, Batifa sub-district on August 20th, 2021, according to local sources. Their bodies were missing until Kurdish and Iraqi security forces found them on August 22nd. The security source told Shafaq News…

Summary

Published
20 August 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

17 August 2021

Incident Code

TI065

Location

قرية سكينة, Medical center in the village of Sakina, Nineveh, Iraq
At least eight people were killed, including four members of the medical staff at a hospital and four fighters of the Sinjar Resistance Units who were receiving treatment at  a hospital, and four others were injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Al-Askiniyah Hospital in the village of Sakina in Sinjar district on August 17, 2021.…

Summary

Published
17 August 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
4
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident