Turkey retaliates with airstrikes after deadly PKK attack
Turkish fighter jets roared over northern Iraq and Syria on Saturday, pounding "terrorist targets" belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in response to a deadly attack on a Turkish military base the previous day, as reported by Digi24.
"In accordance with our rights to self-defence," the Turkish Defense Ministry declared, "aerial operations were conducted against terrorist targets in the regions of Metina, Hakurk, Gara and Qandil." The targets, numbering 29 according to the military, included caves, bunkers, shelters, and even oil facilities allegedly linked to the PKK and its Syrian affiliate, the People's Protection Units (YPG).
Friday's brazen attack on the Turkish base in northern Iraq left nine soldiers dead and four wounded, prompting Ankara's swift and forceful response. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling the attack "heinous," summoned an emergency security meeting in Istanbul for Saturday, gathering key cabinet members and military and intelligence chiefs to plot the next steps.
The PKK, considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union, has been locked in an armed conflict with Ankara since 1984, striving for Kurdish self-determination in Turkey, Syria, and Iraq.
"This attack reaffirms the PKK's unwavering commitment to violence and terror," stated Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, vowing that "Turkey will not hesitate to defend its borders and citizens against such aggression."
Adding to the regional tension, Saturday also saw Turkish authorities detain 113 individuals suspected of PKK ties across 32 provinces. Meanwhile, both the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) announced the postponement of candidate presentations for upcoming municipal elections, citing the volatile security situation.
Whether these airstrikes signify a wider escalation of the Turkish-PKK conflict or remain a focused act of retaliation remains to be seen. However, the current air of high alert throughout Turkey and the region underlines the fragility of the situation and the potential for further clashes.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
