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

20 September 2020

Incident Code

TS449

Location

عون الدادات, Awn al-Dadat, Aleppo, Syria
Up to two civilians including a woman were reported injured in the village of ِAwn al-Dadat in northern Manbij, Aleppo on September 20th, 2020 as a result of alleged Turkey or Turkey backed militants shelling. Local sources named the two civilians as Maryam Al-Kadro aged 50 and Ali Al-Daher. It was also reported that also…

Summary

Published
20 September 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1–2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

12 September 2020

Incident Code

TS448

Location

شيراوا - برج القاس, Burj al-Qass -Shirawa, Aleppo, Syria
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported injuries in Burj Al Qass in Shirawa, Aleppo on September 12th, 2020 when "Turkish forces shelled with heavy artillery from their military bases stationed in the northern Aleppo countryside positions in the villages of Aqiba, Soghanka and Burj al-Qass in the Shirawa area within areas held by Kurdish…

Summary

Published
12 September 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 August 2020

Incident Code

TI050

Location

زاب, Zab area, Duhok, Iraq
A woman was killed in an alleged Turkish airstrike on Zab area, on August 30th, 2020. While some sources reported that the victim, Hiam Noah Haji, was a political leader of the Kurdish Labour Party, other sources wrote she was the leader of a PKK militia. Khabour reported that "Kurdistan Labour Party leader Hiam Noah…

Summary

Published
7 September 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 August 2020

Incident Code

TS447

Location

شيخ حسن, Sheikh Hassan, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian male was reportedly killed by Turkish forces as he was crossing the M4 highway near the village of Sheikh Hassan, Raqqa governorate, on August 26th, 2020, according to local sources. Rojava Network wrote that "a civilian named Qasim Al Khalil (48) was martyred as a result of Turkish shelling on the Sheikh Hassan…

Summary

Published
26 August 2020
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Unknown
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 August 2020

Incident Code

TI049

Location

Bahrava, Nineveh, Iraq
Two civilians were reported killed in Sinjar, Iraq when Turkish drones allegedly struck two vehicles in the evening of August 25th, 2020. The exact location was identified by local sources as Bhrava, Khansur located in the northern Nineveh province. Iraqi Security Media reported that Turkish drones targeted a double-wheeled pickup truck in the village of…

Summary

Published
25 August 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Civilians reported killed
0–2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

19 August 2020

Incident Code

TI048

Location

كانى ماز, Kani Masi, Duhok, Iraq
One civilian was allegedly killed by a Turkish airstrike on Kani Masi. Rudaw reported: "Khalid Abdulrahman, 60, was killed while trying to rescue his grazing livestock after several Turkish airstrike hit the village of Kani Mazin, according to Kani Masi Mayor Sarbast Akrey. 'At 1:45pm a drone came and fired two rockets and then a…

Summary

Published
19 August 2020
Strike Type
Airstrike
Civilians reported killed
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident