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

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

Incident Date

1 June 2021

Incident Code

TI060

Location

هرور, Hiror, Duhok, Iraq
A least one civilian, an elderly man, was injured in alleged Turkish strikes on Kani Masi on June 1, 2021. A report from the Christian Peacemaker Teams identified "on June 1, when Turkish forces fired artillery at Ramazan Ali, a 70 year old farmer, injuring him as he was irrigating his fields in Hirure". The mayor…

Summary

Published
1 June 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 May 2021

Incident Code

TI059

Location

بهيري, Behri, Duhok, Iraq
At least two civilians were injured in alleged Turkish air or artillery strikes on the village of Behri in Zakho District at 2:30 am on May 26th 2021, according to local media reports. Kurdistan24 said that two brothers were wounded "as a result of repeated Turkish artillery shelling". Asharq News also reported that two people…

Summary

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

Incident Date

25 May 2021

Incident Code

TI058

Location

ادني, Edny, Duhok, Iraq
At least one civilian was injured in alleged Turkish shelling on Edny village in Amedi district (Amadiyah) of Dohuk governorate on May 25, 2021. According to Rudaw Media Network, "Turkish shelling today resulted in the injury of a young man from the village of "Dishish" with bleeding, and he was taken to Kani Masi Hospital for…

Summary

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

Incident Date

19 April 2021

Incident Code

TS468

Location

صيدا, Sayda, Raqqa, Syria
At least three civilians were injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Saida in Ain Issa on April 29, 2021. According to Almasirah, "a number of civilians were injured as a result of the Turkish occupation forces and their mercenaries... with artillery shells on the perimeter of the town of Ain Issa."…

Summary

Published
19 April 2021
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 March 2021

Incident Code

TI057

Location

سنين, Seneen, Erbil, Iraq
Two civilians were reportedly injured in a Turkish airstrike or helicopter attack on a car, according to local reports. According to Rudaw News, "Turkish warplanes targeted a civilian vehicle in northeastern Erbil province late on Friday, injuring two passengers, a local official and a border guard told Rudaw.  A civilian vehicle carrying four passengers was targeted…

Summary

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