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

11 December 2024

Incident Code

TS755

Location

تل جمعة, Tal Juma, Al-Hasakah, Syria
One civilian was reportedly injured in alleged Turkish artillery shelling on the village of Tal Juma, in the countryside of Tal Tamr, in the Al-Hasakah Governorate, Syria, on the morning of Wednesday, 11 December 2024. The age, name or any other biographical information relating to the civilian was not given, although a number of Kurdish…

Summary

Published
11 December 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2024

Incident Code

TS753

Location

نطقة عين العرب, Ayn al-Arab District, Aleppo, Syria
During the early evening of Tuesday, 10 December 2024, the village of Ja'dah al-Kabira, southwest of Kobani (Ain al-Arab) in northern Syria, was allegedly bombed by the Turkish military. The attack resulted in the deaths of two or three civilians, including a child, and injuries to six civilians, including at least two children, all from…

Summary

Published
7 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
2–3
Civilians reported injured
6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2024

Incident Code

TS754

Location

ناحية صرين, Sarrin Subdistrict, Aleppo, Syria
Two civilians, including at least one paramedic, were reportedly killed and two others injured on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, when Turkish forces allegedly bombed an ambulance transporting injured people en route to the Kobani hospital on the Sarrin-Tishreen Dam road in the countryside of Aleppo, Syria. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) initially reported…

Summary

Published
7 November 2025
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Artillery
Infrastructure
Healthcare (Ambulance)
Civilians reported killed
2
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 December 2024

Incident Code

TS752

Location

ناحية عين عيسى, Ain Issa Subdistrict, Raqqa, Syria
On the morning of Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at least eight people from the Suleiman family, including two women and two children, were killed by an alleged Turkish airstrike or drone strike on their family house in the Safiya village, in the western countryside of Ain Issa in the north of Raqqa, Syria. The Hawar…

Summary

Published
10 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike)
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
8
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 December 2024

Incident Code

TS750

Location

ناحية الدرباسية, Al-Darbasiyah Subdistrict, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On Monday, December 9, 2024, an alleged Turkish drone strike hit a civilian vehicle between the villages of al-Shor al-Sharqi and al-Gharbi, near the town of Zarkan (Abu Rasin) in the northern countryside of Hasakah, northeast Syria, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to at least two others. While most sources, including…

Summary

Published
9 December 2024
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car)
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

9 December 2024

Incident Code

TS749

Location

حرمل, Harmal, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On December 9, 2024, a Turkish military drone strike allegedly hit the village of Harmal in the countryside of Zarkan (Abu Rasin), in al-Jazeera canton, resulting in the confirmed killing of one civilian and injuries to two others. The deceased was identified as Muhammad Hassan Hassan (45, Male). According to multiple local news agencies, the…

Summary

Published
9 December 2024
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Residential
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident