Ankara: In response to a terrorist attack in the Turkish capital, Turkey’s National Intelligence Service (MIT) launched operations targeting the PKK/YPG in northern Syria and Iraq, according to security sources.
The coordinated strikes followed an attack on Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities in Ankara that killed five people and injured 22 others.
The attack on TAI’s headquarters in the Kahramankazan district of Ankara was carried out on Wednesday by two terrorists, who were neutralized by Turkish security forces.
The victims included TAI employees, a taxi driver, and a security guard. According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, the PKK was behind the attack, while Defense Minister Yaşar Guler affirmed Turkey’s commitment to pursuing the group “until the last terrorist is eliminated.”
The operation carried out by Turkish intelligence targeted key infrastructure used by the PKK/YPG, including energy facilities, logistics centers and ammunition depots in both northern Syria and Iraq.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology pledged to continue its efforts until all strategic goals are achieved, stressing the importance of dismantling the terrorist group’s operational capacity.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack on TAI, saying: “I condemn this heinous attack on Turkish aviation industries,” and reaffirmed the nation’s resolve in its anti-terrorism efforts.
The attack occurred a day after Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party, hinted at the possibility of parole for Kurdistan Workers’ Party leader Abdullah Ocalan, a controversial figure who has led the group’s decades-long insurgency against Turkey.
International condemnation of the Ankara attack was swift. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell expressed his solidarity with Türkiye, stressing the European Union’s position against terrorism in all its forms.
The European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Affairs, Oliver Varhelyi, echoed similar sentiments, while the Iraqi embassy in Ankara condemned the attack, stressing its stance against extremism.
Iraq had previously banned the PKK from operating within its borders, highlighting the delicate regional dynamics.
The PKK, which Türkiye and its Western allies classify as a terrorist organization, has waged a violent campaign for autonomy in southeastern Türkiye since the 1980s.
The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
Türkiye frequently targets PKK fighters in cross-border operations, with regular air strikes in Iraq and Syria aimed at dismantling the group’s operations.
TAI, which was targeted by Wednesday’s attack, plays a crucial role in Turkey’s defense industry, manufacturing military and civilian aircraft, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles. These drones have been useful in Turkish military operations, especially in counterinsurgency efforts against Kurdish forces.
Wednesday’s attack highlights ongoing tensions between Türkiye and Kurdish rebel groups, even as some political factions in Türkiye express interest in potential dialogues for peace.
However, as the violence continues, analysts wonder if there is any room left for negotiations.
Turkey’s rapid response to the terrorist attack in Ankara, through intelligence strikes against PKK/YPG targets in northern Syria and Iraq, underscores the country’s determination to combat terrorism.
As Turkish forces intensify their efforts to neutralize the PKK, the incident also raises questions about the broader ramifications for regional security and peace prospects.