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

16 January 2025

Incident Code

TS772

Location

سد تشرين، منبج, Tishreen Dam, Manbij, Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday, 16th January 2025, Turkish warplanes and drones allegedly bombed civilians and shift workers at the Tishreen Dam, south of Manbij in the Aleppo countryside of Syria, killing from one to five civilians, and injuring up to 40, including women, children, and four journalists. The initial reports said that one civilian was killed and…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
1–5
Civilians reported injured
10–40
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 January 2025

Incident Code

TS766

Location

قرجوخ, Qarjoukh, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On the afternoon of Friday, 10th January 2025, a Turkish military drone allegedly hit the village of Qarjoukh in the countryside of Derik, al-Hasakah governorate, Syria. The attack reportedly killed one civilian man who had been previously displaced. The Martyrs’ Families Council in Derik revealed the identity of the victim as Ahmed Ali, originally from…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 January 2025

Incident Code

TS765

Location

خانا سري, Khana Sari, Al-Hasakah, Syria
Two civilians were reportedly killed and another injured in an alleged Turkish drone strike on a civilian car in the village of Khana Sari, in the countryside of the city of Derik in al-Jazeera canton in the al-Hasakah governorate of northeastern Syria, on the evening of Friday, 10 January 2025. Multiple local news sources, referring…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2025

Incident Code

TS764a

Location

لقرية إيلاجاغ بريف كوباني, village of Ilajagh in the western countryside of Kobani, Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday, 9 January 2025, a young woman was injured by an alleged Turkish drone strike which hit the village of Ilajagh in the western countryside of Kobani, northern Syria. Mohammed Saleh Ibrahim, from the village of Ilajagh, told NPA News that “Samira Hussein Abdi (20 years old) was transferred to Kobani Hospital for treatment after…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential, Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 January 2025

Incident Code

TS764

Location

القاسمية, Al-Qasimiyah, Kobani, Aleppo  , Syria
On Thursday, 9 January 2025, the village of al-Qasimiyah was hit by alleged Turkish shelling, injuring at least three civilians. Local sources reported both artillery and drone activity across at least eight settlements west and south of Kobani, resulting in civilian injuries and damage to houses and vehicles. According to SOHR News, “3 citizens were…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential (House), Vehicle (Car)
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 January 2025

Incident Code

TS761

Location

صرين, Sarrin, Aleppo, Syria
At 16:40 local time, on Monday, January 8, 2025, one civilian, Khader Mustafa Abdo, was killed, and at least five others were reported injured following an alleged Turkish drone attack, striking a car repair garage in the city of Sarrin, south of Kobani, in the Aleppo governorate of Syria. Multiple sources, including ANF, Hawar News…

Summary

Published
19 September 2025
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Commerce (Shop)
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
5–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident