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

1 April 2020

Incident Code

TS426

Location

ربيعات, Rabiaat, Al Hassakah, Syria
Four civilians were injured in artillery strikes on the village of Rabiaat, near Abu Rasin/Zarkan area on April 1st, 2020. Local sources blamed Turkish forces and/or Turkish-backed factions. Hawar News reported that "the Turkish occupation army and its mercenaries returned to shelling Zarkan area and its countryside with missiles and rockets intensively this evening", resulting in…

Summary

Published
1 April 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

30 March 2020

Incident Code

TS425

Location

عرب حسن كبير‎, Arab Hassan Kabir, Aleppo, Syria
A girl was killed and her parents were injured in heavy artillery shelling by alleged Turkey-backed factions on the village of Arab Hasan, Aleppo governorate, on March 30th, 2020, according to local sources. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that it had "monitored this evening [March 3, 2020] heavy artillery shelling by Turkish-backed factions,…

Summary

Published
30 March 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

26 March 2020

Incident Code

TS424

Location

تل رفعت, Tal Rifaat, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians were reported injured when Turkish forces stationed near Azaz fired several rockets on Tal Rifa'at in Aleppo, Syria on March 26th, 2020. The injured civilians are IDPs originally from Afrin living in Tal Rifa'at. @NadiaAbidd reported that "Two civilians were injured in Tel Rifaat city as a result of rocket fire from the…

Summary

Published
26 March 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2020

Incident Code

TS423

Location

تل أبيض, Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria
@NPA_English reported on March 25th 2020 that "A child was killed and two others seriously injured in a mine explosion that was planted [last night] by Turkish-backed armed groups in the village of Zaytouna in Tal-Abyad countryside, northern Raqqa." No further details are available.

Summary

Published
25 March 2020
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

25 March 2020

Incident Code

TS422

Location

سكرية, Sukariya, Raqqa, Syria
Up to nine civilians including a child were injured when Members of Faylaq al-Majd of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army shelled Sukariya village which is located 13km west of Tal Abyad, Raqqa, Syria on March 25th, 2020 according to local sources. NPA claimed that the Syrian National Army stormed the village with several bombs after…

Summary

Published
25 March 2020
Civilians reported injured
4–9
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

23 March 2020

Incident Code

TS421

Location

حلب, Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
An elderly man was reportedly severely injured in artillery shelling carried out by alleged Turkish-backed factions in the village of Um Al Hawaash on March 23rd, 2020, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The SOHR reported that "on March 23, SOHR activists said that an elderly man was seriously injured today by artillery…

Summary

Published
23 March 2020
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident