Turkey strikes Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria after deadly attack on defense company

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s air force targeted Kurdish militant targets in Iraq and Syria on Wednesday in apparent retaliation for an attack on a major state-run defense company that killed five people and injured more than 20. shot.

The defense ministry said more than 30 targets were “destroyed” in the airstrike but did not provide detailed information about the locations hit. It was stated that “every precaution” was taken to prevent civilians from being harmed.

The attack came hours after suspected Kurdish militants threw explosives and opened fire on aviation and defense company TAI. Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya said that two attackers, a man and a woman, were also killed. At least 22 people, including 7 security guards, were injured in the attack.

Yerlikaya said that the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is believed to be behind the attack on the defense company. Minister of Defense Yaşar Güler also pointed out the PKK.

Güler said, “We give these PKK scoundrels the punishment they deserve every time. But they do not come to their senses.” “We will pursue them until the last terrorist is eliminated.”

Türkiye regularly launches airstrikes against the PKK, which has a base in Iraq, and a Kurdish militia group linked to militants in Syria.

There has been no statement from the PKK yet.

The Islamic State group and far-leftists have also carried out attacks in Turkey in the past.

“I condemn this heinous terrorist attack,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS meeting in Russia. he said.

Putin expressed his condolences. In the statement made by the US Embassy, ​​it was stated that Washington “strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack”.

TAI carries out the design, production and assembly of civil and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and other defense industry and space systems. Its UAVs helped Turkey gain the upper hand in the fight against Kurdish militants.

The attack came a day after the leader of Turkey’s far-right nationalist party, which is allied with Erdogan, raised the possibility that the detained leader of the PKK could be granted parole if he renounces violence and disbands his organisation.

Abdullah Öcalan’s group is fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people since the 1980s. It is considered a terrorist organization by Türkiye and its Western allies.

The country’s pro-Kurdish political party, which also condemned the TUSAS attack, noted that this took place at a time when the possibility of dialogue to end the conflict emerged.

Turkish media reported that the attackers arrived at the entrance of the TAI complex by taxi on Wednesday. The attackers carrying assault weapons detonated the explosive next to the taxi, causing panic and allowing the taxi to enter.

It was determined that one of the victims was mechanical engineer Zahide Güçlü, who went to the entrance to collect the flowers his wife sent to Anadolu Agency.

The agency reported that the taxi driver was also killed by the attackers and his body was found in the trunk of the vehicle.

Orhan Akdundar, the brother of a TAI employee, was among the relatives waiting for news of their loved ones outside the complex.

“I called my brother who was inside and said, ‘What happened?’ “He said the bomb exploded and the gunshots continued for a very long time.” he said. “There was a huge chaos. Gendarmerie, special forces and other security forces were here. There were many ambulances. Then the phones were cut off and I could not communicate.”

According to the video published by HaberTürk, an unidentified TAI employee shouted, “We will work harder, we will produce more, to spite the traitors” while he and his other colleagues were being evacuated from the building.

Surveillance footage broadcast on television showed a man in civilian clothes carrying a backpack and holding an assault rifle.

The Minister of Internal Affairs said that security teams were dispatched as soon as the attack started around 15.30.

According to DHA news agency and other media reports, many gunshots were heard after security forces entered the area. Helicopters were seen flying over the facility.

Authorities temporarily banned posts about the attack and continued to restrict access to social media sites.

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said that the target of the attack was Turkey’s “success in the defense industry”.

Iraq’s Ankara Embassy made a statement condemning the attack. It was stated that the embassy “confirmed Iraq’s determined stance in rejecting all forms and manifestations of terrorism and extremism and expressed the solidarity of the Iraqi government and people with the government and people of the Republic of Turkey.” Earlier this year, Iraq announced the ban of the PKK.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed their solidarity with Türkiye.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also condemned the attack. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims,” ​​he said on X.