Casualty Recording ▸ Conflicts

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

26 October 2019

Incident Code

TS368

Location

بطون رأس العين عند تل تمر , Xirbet Qerac, Xirbet Qerac, between Ras Al Ayn and Tal Tamr, Al Hassakah, Syria
One woman was reported killed and four others injured in an alleged artillery attack by Turkey-backed militants in Kherbet Qerac, between Ras al-Ain and Tal Temir on October 26th, 2019 according to local sources. The victim, aged 30, was identified by ANHA and other sources as Khewla Khidir Deham. According to ANF and @baxtiyarumut, Khewla…

Summary

Published
26 October 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident →

Incident Date

26 October 2019

Incident Code

TS369

Location

الأسدية, Al Assadiya, Al Hassakah, Syria
Two civilians were reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Assadiya village, Ras Al Ain in Hassakah Governorate on October 26th, 2019 according to local sources. The two civilians were identified as Mary Khelef Mihemed (55) and Mihemed Mustafa Tahir (age unknown).

Summary

Published
26 October 2019
Strike Type
Airstrike and/or Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident →

Incident Date

26 October 2019

Incident Code

TS370

Location

أبو هيا, Abu Haya, Raqqa, Syria
A civilian aged 80 was reported injured after being shot allegedly by Turkey-back militants in Abu Haya, Tal Abyad in Raqqa Governorate on October 26th, 2019 according to local sources. The civilian was identified as Jesus Khelil who according to ANF News, was shot in front of his house. Other sources said the civilian was…

Summary

Published
26 October 2019
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Small arms and light weapons
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident →

Incident Date

25 October 2019

Incident Code

TS366

Location

Rajm/Recman, Raqqa, Syria
Up to six civilians of the same family, including three or four children aged between four and 10, were reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces artillery attack on Rajm village, north of Ayn Issa in Raqqa Governorate, on October 25th, 2019, according to local sources. ANF said the family which was attacked consists of…

Summary

Published
25 October 2019
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
5–6
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident →

Incident Date

25 October 2019

Incident Code

TS367

Location

Menacîr, Al Hassakah, Syria
Two civilians were reported injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Menacîr, Ras Al Ain in Hassakah Governorate on October 25th, 2019, according to local sources.  

Summary

Published
25 October 2019
Civilians reported injured
2
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident →

Incident Date

24 October 2019

Incident Code

TS365a

Location

تل تمر, Tal Tamr, Al Hassakah, Syria
According to the Kurdish Red Crescent, one civilian aged 58 was injured in an alleged Turkish forces attack on Tal Tamr in Hasaka governorate - Syria on October 24th, 2019. No more details currently available. @DrMWilk reported that "four seriously injured people" were brought to the hospital in Tal Tamr.

Summary

Published
24 October 2019
Civilians reported injured
1–4
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Turkish Military
View Incident →

Research and Investigations

View all →
17 May, 2023
Visualisation
Iraq

Reported civilian deaths from Turkish Military strikes in Iraq

Database tracks casualties in Iraq during Turkish strikes
6 Sep, 2022
Visualisation
Iraq, Syria

Turkish Military in Iraq and Syria Casualty Map

Turkey has conducted hundreds of unilateral air and artillery strikes in both Syria and Iraq – as well as a small number of actions as part of the US-led Coalition against so-called Islamic State. From July 2015 in Iraq, occasional unilateral Turkish airstrikes began targeting Kurdish militants in northern Kurdistan. Thirteen months later, the first […]
8 Feb, 2022
Investigations
Iraq

Who killed Ahmed and Youssef?

When two Iraqi holidaymakers were killed in the Kurdish region of the country, the finger of blame turned to Turkish strikes. But this investigation finds a roadside bomb was the more likely cause.
25 Feb, 2021
Research
Iraq, Türkiye

Renewed military campaign in northern Iraq against PKK sees deaths of 13 Turkish captives

A renewed campaign by Turkey in mid February against a Kurdish militant faction – which has seen Turkish troops pushing deeper than ever before into northern Iraq – also saw the deaths of thirteen Turkish civilian and military captives in a highly controversial attack, Airwars monitoring of the region shows. On February 10th, the Turkish […]
24 Dec, 2019
Update
Syria

More than 220 civilians likely killed in Turkish invasion of northern Syria

Eleven weeks on from the October 9th launch of a Turkish-led offensive against Kurds in northern Syria, known as ‘Operation Peace Spring’, fighting continues to rage with civilians still encountering significant violence. Since the beginning of the latest clashes, Airwars researchers have overall monitored between 244 and 312 reported civilian deaths resulting from air, artillery […]
18 Oct, 2019
Update
Syria, Türkiye

Civilians severely at risk from Turkish invasion of Northern Syria

Airwars monitors locally reported civilian harm from all Turkish air and artillery strikes in Iraq and Syria, as well as from Kurdish counterfire actions. Our database can be found here. More than 120 civilian deaths have been locally alleged in eight days of fighting in northern Syria to October 16th, following a Turkish-led offensive, ‘Operation […]