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

9 December 2024

Incident Code

TS751

Location

ناحية مركز عين العرب, Ayn al-Arab Subdistrict, Aleppo, Syria
Two children were reportedly killed in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling and/or drone strike of Konftar (Kun Aftar, Tarmi) village in the southwestern countryside of Kobani (Ayn al-Arab), in the Aleppo Governorate, Syria, on Monday, 9 December 2024. The names and ages of those killed are not known, although they were referred to in all…

Summary

Published
9 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike (Drone Strike), Artillery
Civilians reported killed
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

8 December 2024

Incident Code

TS748

Location

المستريحة, Al-Mustariha, Raqqa, Syria
At 11 p.m on Sunday, December 8, 2024, at least 13 and up to 18 people from one family, including at least eight children and two women, were killed and many others were wounded by an alleged Turkish airstrike or drone strike in the village of Al-Mustariha in the Ain Issa countryside, located north of…

Summary

Published
8 December 2024
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported killed
13–18
Civilians reported injured
5–10
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident

Incident Date

5 December 2024

Incident Code

TS747

Location

البوغاز, Al-Boughaz, Aleppo, Syria
On December 5th, 2024, artillery shelling allegedly attributed to Turkish forces and affiliated Syrian National Army factions hit the village of al-Boughaz in the western countryside of Manbij Syria, killing two siblings: Ahmed Ali al-Jaban (20 years old, male) and Zahra Ali al-Jaban (23 years old, female), and injuring a number of civilians. According to the…

Summary

Published
5 December 2024
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Residential
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

5 December 2024

Incident Code

TS746

Location

الفارات, Al-Farat, Aleppo, Syria
On Thursday, December 5th, 2024, a civilian woman was killed and two other women were injured in the village of al-Farat in the Manbij district in the Aleppo governorate of Syria in an alleged Turkish artillery shelling. Nadima al-Hussein al-Hamoud, 45 years old, was killed as a result of the incident. ANF, who reported the…

Summary

Published
5 December 2024
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

4 December 2024

Incident Code

TI115

Location

قرية حرورة في منطقة برواري بالا التابعة لمحافظة دهوك, the village of Harura in the Barwari Bala area of ​​Dohuk Governorate, Dohuk, Iraq
On the morning of Wednesday, December 4, 2024, a civilian was killed and two others were injured as a result of the alleged Turkish artillery shelling of the village of Harura in the Barwari Bala area of the ​​Dohuk Governorate of Iraq. According to ANF News, three residents of the village of Qamri went to…

Summary

Published
11 September 2025
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

4 December 2024

Incident Code

TS745

Location

بالقرب من محطة وقود السيد، مدينة المالكية, Sayyid gas station, Al-Malikiyah, Al-Hasakah, Syria
On Wednesday, December 4th 2024, three civilians were killed and three others, including children, were injured by a drone strike allegedly launched by the Turkish military on a military vehicle in the vicinity of "Ararat" car wash located near the Sayyid gas station in al-Malikiyah (Derik) in the al-Jazeera canton, part of the al-Hasakah region…

Summary

Published
4 December 2024
Strike Type
Infrastructure
Vehicle (Car), Commerce
Civilians reported killed
3
Civilians reported injured
3
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident