Turkish Military Responds to Attack
Turkey’s military launched airstrikes in Iraq and Syria targeting Kurdish militant group PKK after an attack near Ankara killed five people. The government stated that the strikes resulted in 59 deaths, described as “terrorists.” The attack earlier this week at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) left another 22 people injured, sparking swift military retaliation.
Ankara Attack Leaves Five Dead
The attack took place outside the capital, Ankara, where gunmen opened fire at the entrance of TAI, a key player in Turkey’s aerospace industry. The Turkish government immediately blamed the PKK for the attack. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the incident, calling it “heinous,” and vowed that no terrorist organisation would achieve its goals.
Retaliatory Strikes Hit Multiple Targets
Turkey’s defence ministry reported the destruction of 47 PKK-linked targets, including military facilities and ammunition depots in Iraq and Syria. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) claimed that 12 civilians died in the retaliatory strikes. Turkish officials have insisted that all necessary precautions were taken to avoid civilian casualties during the airstrikes.
Attackers Identified by Authorities
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that two attackers, a man and a woman, had been “neutralised.” The male attacker, identified as Ali Orek, was reportedly a member of the PKK. Efforts to identify the female suspect are ongoing. Local media also reported that the attackers killed a taxi driver to steal his vehicle, which they used to carry out the assault.
Global Reactions to the Attack
Global leaders have expressed support for Turkey following the attack. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the UK stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Turkey as a NATO ally. President Erdogan, speaking at the BRICS summit in Russia, reaffirmed Turkey’s commitment to combat terrorism, stating that the country would never bow to such threats.
Media Blackout and Social Media Restrictions
Following the attack, Turkish authorities imposed a media blackout on the details of the incident. Reports of restricted access to social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram emerged across the country. The head of Turkey’s Radio and TV Supreme Council, Ebubekir Sahin, urged the removal of all images related to the attack, cautioning that sharing such content would serve terrorism’s purposes.
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