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

8 July 2021

Incident Code

TI064a

Location

قرية هرور, Hirrur, Duhok, Iraq
One civilian was injured in an alleged Turkish artillery strike on the village of Hirrur, Dohuk Province on July 8 th, 2021 according to one source. Christian Peacemaker Teams said the civilian was injured by shrapnel when a Turkish military base fired shells into farmlands close to the village. No further information could be found.…

Summary

Published
8 July 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

7 July 2021

Incident Code

TI063

Location

هرور, Hiror, Duhok, Iraq
Between one and two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish airstrikes on the village of Harur on July 7, 2021. A security source told Shafaq News Agency, "Turkish warplanes bombed the vicinity of Harour village in Kani Masi district in Al-Amadiyah district in Dohuk governorate. The aerial bombardment resulted in the injury of a citizen and…

Summary

Published
7 July 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

13 June 2021

Incident Code

TI062

Location

قلعة دزة, Qalaat Diza, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
At least four people were killed in alleged Turkish airstrikes in the Qalaat Diza region, on the road between the villages of Deka and Kani Lane, on June 13, 2021. While the majority of sources refer to those killed as civilians, Turkish sources allege they five members of the PKK were killed. According to North…

Summary

Published
13 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
0–4
Military actors reported killed
0–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 June 2021

Incident Codes

IRS009 YS106 RS4567

Location

مشفى الشفاء, Al Shifaa Hospital, Aleppo, Syria
At least 13 civilians, including four hospital staff and a pregnant woman, two to five other women, and one to three children, were killed and up to 50 others, including 11 hospital staff, were injured in alleged airstrikes and/or artillery shelling of Al-Shifaa Hospital in Afrin on June 12, 2021. Responsibility for the strikes is…

Summary

Published
12 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare
Civilians reported killed
13–23
Civilians reported injured
15–50
Military actors reported killed
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military, Turkish Military, Iranian Military, YPG
View Incident

Incident Date

5 June 2021

Incident Code

TI061

Location

مخمور, Makhmour Refugee Camp, Erbil, Iraq
At least three people were killed and up to five others were injured in an alleged Turkish drone strike on Makhmour Refugee Camp south of Erbil in Kurdistan, Iraq. The Turkish government and their sources refer to those killed as members of the PKK while local and international sources refer to those killed and wounded…

Summary

Published
5 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–3
Civilians reported injured
2–5
Military actors reported killed
0–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 June 2021

Incident Code

TS469

Location

كالوتا, Kalota, Aleppo, Syria
At least one civilian, a child, was killed and three others were wounded in alleged Turkish strikes on Kalota village on June 5, 2021. A tweet from @RojavaIC reported that "a 13yo child, Zeynab Hussain Ibrahim Bento, died in Kalota village, Shehba, when her family house was hit by shells from Turkish-occupied Afrin." In addition to…

Summary

Published
5 June 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2–3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident