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

22 January 2021

Incident Code

TS463

Location

Memitê, Aleppo, Syria
A number of civilians were injured as a result of alleged Turkish drone attack on a house in Memitê neighborhood in Kobanê on January 22nd, 2021, according to local sources. One of the wounded is a 37 year old man who was injured with shrapnel and moved to hospital. His situation later was described as…

Summary

Published
22 January 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2021

Incident Code

TI054

Location

العمادية, Amadiya, Duhok, Iraq
Three civilians were injured when alleged Turkish airstrikes struck an alleged Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) vehicle in Amadiya district in Dohuk governorate in the afternoon of January 22nd, 2021, according to local sources. Director of Jumanki Aland Amir told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that “the Turkish airstrikes targeted the outskirts of the village (Kari) of…

Summary

Published
22 January 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

22 January 2021

Incident Code

TI053A

Location

كري, Gri, Duhok, Iraq
Two children were reported injured and hundreds of sheep killed as a result of alleged Turkish bombing of three areas in Kurdistan on January 22nd, 2021. The first bombed area was Gri in Duhok’s Chamanke district, at the foot of Gara mountain near the border with Turkey. Mohammed Sheikhzade, a villager there whose two brothers…

Summary

Published
22 January 2021
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

3 January 2021

Incident Code

TS462

Location

عين عيسى, Ain Issa, Raqqa, Syria
Two civilians from the same family were reported injured in alleged Turkish shelling on Ain Issa on January 3rd, 2021 according to local sources. @eyeonhasaka said that the shelling targeted the southern neighborhood of Ain Issa and led to a displacement movement of the area's residents towards the city. @Rojava_Media said that a mother and…

Summary

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

Incident Date

17 December 2020

Incident Code

TS461

Location

الجهبل, Al Jahbal, Raqqa, Syria
Local sources reported that two civilian males were killed in alleged Turkish artillery strikes on the village of Al Jahbal in eastern Ain Issa, Raqqa governorate, on December 17th, 2020. According to Rudaw, "pro-Turkey militants carried out fresh attacks on Friday against the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Ain Issa, with several civilian casualties…

Summary

Published
17 December 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 December 2020

Incident Code

TI053

Location

ديرالوك, Deraluk , Duhok, Iraq
Basnews reported that three children were killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Deraluk town of Amedi district, Duhok province, on December 12th, 2020. No further info is available at the moment.

Summary

Published
12 December 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
3
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident