Turkey’s government launched airstrikes on Wednesday night, targeting Kurdish militant group PKK sites in Iraq and Syria, in response to an attack near Ankara earlier that day, which left five dead and 22 injured. The Turkish defense ministry confirmed the destruction of 32 targets linked to the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the UK.
The assault occurred outside Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), about 40 km from Ankara. Video footage captured two individuals firing at the facility, but no group has claimed responsibility. Turkish authorities suspect the PKK’s involvement, with Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stating that two attackers, a man and a woman, were “neutralized.”
The attack happened during a shift change, prompting staff to seek shelter. Reports suggest the attackers hijacked a taxi after killing the driver to carry out the assault. Four of the victims were TAI employees, and the fifth was the cab driver.
President Erdogan condemned the incident, calling it a “vile terror attack,” and reaffirmed that security forces acted swiftly to contain the threat. Turkish officials have imposed a media blackout, with restrictions on social media access and sharing of related images.
TAI, a key player in Turkey’s aerospace sector, is involved in the production and modernization of aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets, and is jointly owned by the Turkish Armed Forces and a civilian government arm overseeing defense procurement.
