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In a swift and forceful military reaction, Turkey's Air Force initiated a series of air strikes on Kurdish positions within northern Iraq and Syria. This retaliation was a consequence of the recent attack on a prominent Turkish aerospace and defense company, TUSAS, situated near the capital Ankara. The attack led to the deaths of five individuals and left over 20 injured.
The Ministry of National Defense released a statement on Thursday revealing that the operation executed the previous day aimed at 47 specific targets believed to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The ministry was firm in its stance that critical measures were taken to avoid civilian casualties.
The offensive saw a split between its aims, with 29 targets engaged within Iraq and another 18 within Syrian territory. Despite stated preventative measures, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claimed the strikes resulted in civilian fatalities, including two children, and numerous injuries.
Among the groups within the SDF is the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), renowned for its pivotal role as an ally to the US in the fight against ISIL. The YPG's association with the SDF has been problematic for Turkey, which views the group as synonymous with the PKK - a designated terrorist organization by Ankara and many of its international allies. This belief is grounded in the assertion that the PKK orchestrated the perilous assault on TUSAS.
Following the strikes, Turkish officials announced that 59 militants were "neutralized," a term that typically implies fatalities. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya specified the identification of one of the TUSAS attackers as a "PKK terrorist."
The tensions escalated following the attack on TUSAS as security measures intensified nationally. Notably, Istanbul's primary airports announced heightened security protocols, urging travelers to anticipate delays and arrive well in advance for their flights.
The backdrop to this event includes a statement from Devlet Bahceli, the leader of the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and ally to President Erdogan’s AKP, hinting at potential parole for Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, should he renounce violence and dissolve the organization. However, following the TUSAS attack, President Erdogan condemned the incident as a “heinous terrorist attack.”
Internationally, the actions drew a response from the Iraqi embassy in Ankara, which condemned the TUSAS attack and proclaimed its adamantine opposition to terrorism.
Regular air strikes by Turkey against the PKK in Iraq and repercussions against affiliated Kurdish groups in Syria have been part of its ongoing effort to mitigate threats and secure an advantage in conflicts involving Kurdish militants. The success of these military campaigns has been bolstered by UAVs produced by TUSAS, demonstrating the strategic significance of the company within Turkey's security architecture.
The strife, which has carried on since the 1980s, continues to be a source of conflict and upheaval in southeastern Turkey, having caused tens of thousands of deaths. As the situation escalates, the potential for dialogue and a peaceful resolution is questioned by international observers and local actors alike.