The Turkish Air Force is carrying out an operation against Turkey’s outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Syria and Iraq following a terrorist attack in Ankara, the country’s Defence Ministry said.
The defence ministry reported:
“On October 23, 2024, an Air Force operation was carried out against terrorist targets in northern Iraq and Syria to prevent terrorist attacks on our people and security forces by neutralising the PKK.”
Also, Turkish warplanes carried out a number of strikes in Qamishli, northern Hasakeh province, in an ongoing bombing campaign tonight, with dozens of airstrikes and artillery shelling targeting PKK-linked positions in northwestern and northeastern Syria.
Earlier, the possible involvement of PKK representatives in the Ankara terrorist attack was admitted by Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
On Wednesday evening, two explosions occurred at the entrance to the headquarters of the aerospace company TUSAŞ, which designs and modernises aircraft. Preliminarily, a car exploded, then gunfire erupted. Five people died, 22 were injured. Two perpetrators of the attack were killed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the BRICS summit. He will interrupt his visit to Kazan in connection with the incident and will return to Turkey on Thursday.
World leaders condemn attack in Ankara
Reactions have come from around the world in the wake of the terrorist attack on the national defence enterprise TUSAŞ. The US, the UN, NATO and the EU have issued statements in support of Turkey.
The US Embassy in Turkey said:
“The United States strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack, and extends condolences to the families of those lost and injured. We stand with our ally Turkey.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the terrorist attack on TUSAŞ. UN Assistant Spokesperson Farhan Haq, noting that they continue to receive detailed information about the attack, said:
“The Secretary-General condemns this attack on civilians.”
Haq also said that the Secretary-General has expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He added that the Secretary General also wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.
Following the terror attack on TUSAŞ, NATO ally Turkey also issued a statement of support. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in a statement on the Ankara terror attack:
“We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are monitoring developments closely.”
French President Emmanuel Macron made a statement on Platform X in French and Turkish regarding the terrorist attack on TUSAŞ. Macron said they strongly condemn the terrorist attack and added:
“We share the grief of the loved ones of the victims and express our condolences. We stand in solidarity with Turkey and the Turkish people in the fight against terrorism.”
