Türkiye strikes Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria following defence company attack
The strike got here hours after suspected Kurdish militants set off explosives and opened fireplace on the aerospace and defence firm TUSAS.
Türkiye’s air power has struck Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria in an obvious retaliation for an assault at a key state-run defence firm that killed 5 individuals and wounded greater than 20 others.
The defence ministry mentioned greater than 30 targets had been “destroyed” within the aerial offensive, with out offering particulars on the areas that had been hit. It mentioned “all types of precautions” had been taken to stop hurt to civilians.
The strike got here hours after suspected Kurdish militants set off explosives and opened fireplace on the aerospace and defence firm TUSAS.
The 2 attackers – a person and a lady – additionally had been killed, Inside Minister Ali Yerlikaya mentioned.
Yerlikaya mentioned the militant Kurdistan Staff’ Get together, or PKK, was believed to be behind the assault on the defence firm.
His feedback had been echoed by as Defence Minister Yasar Guler, who mentioned “we are going to pursue them till the final terrorist is eradicated.”
UAVs instrumental in combat in opposition to Kurdish militants focused
Türkiye recurrently conducts airstrikes in opposition to the PKK, which has a foothold in Iraq, and in opposition to a Kurdish militia group in Syria that’s affiliated with the militants.
There was no instant assertion from the PKK.
“I condemn this heinous terrorist assault,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned throughout a gathering with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of a BRICS assembly in Russia.
TUSAS designs, manufactures and assembles civilian and army plane, unmanned aerial autos and different defence business and house methods. Its UAVs have been instrumental in Türkiye gaining an higher hand in its combat in opposition to Kurdish militants.
The assault occurred a day after the chief of Türkiye’s far-right nationalist social gathering that is allied with Erdogan raised the chance that the PKK’s imprisoned chief may very well be granted parole if he renounces violence and disbands his organisation.
Abdullah Ocalan’s group has been combating for autonomy in southeast Türkiye in a battle that has killed tens of hundreds of individuals for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. It’s thought of a terrorist group by Türkiye and its Western allies.
The nation’s pro-Kurdish political social gathering, which additionally condemned the TUSAS assault, famous that it had occurred at a time when the potential for a dialogue to finish the battle had emerged.
Turkish media mentioned the assailants arrived Wednesday at an entry to the TUSAS complicated in a taxi.
One of many victims was recognized as mechanical engineer Zahide Guclu, who had gone to the doorway to gather flowers despatched by her husband, the state-run Anadolu Company.
The taxi driver was additionally killed by the assailants and his physique was discovered within the trunk of the car, the company reported.
Safety digicam photos, aired on tv, confirmed a person in plainclothes carrying a backpack and holding an assault rifle.
The inside minister mentioned safety groups had been dispatched as quickly because the assault began at round 3:30pm.
Widespread condemnation
A number of gunshots had been heard after safety forces entered the positioning, the DHA information company and different media reported. Helicopters had been seen flying above the premises.
Authorities issued a brief blackout on the protection of the assault and went on to throttle entry to social media web sites.
Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz mentioned the goal of the assault was Türkiye’s “success within the defence business.”
The Iraqi Embassy in Ankara issued an announcement condemning the assault. It mentioned the embassy “affirms Iraq’s agency place in rejecting terrorism and extremism in all its types and manifestations, and expresses the solidarity of Iraq’s authorities and other people, with the federal government and other people of the Republic of Turkey.” Earlier this yr, Iraq introduced a ban on the PKK.
NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte and UN Secretary-Normal Antonio Guterres each expressed their solidarity with Turkey.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis additionally denounced the assault. “Our ideas and heartfelt condolences exit to the households of the victims,” he mentioned on X.
