Turkiye Launches Second Day of Airstrikes Against Kurdish Militant Targets in Syria and Iraq

Turkiye continued its military operations against suspected Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq for a second day. This follows a deadly attack on a defence company, killing at least five people. The National Intelligence Organisation targeted strategic sites linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and affiliated Syrian Kurdish militia, according to Anadolu Agency.

Turkiye's Military Response

The strikes focused on military, intelligence, energy, infrastructure facilities, and ammunition depots. A security official confirmed the use of armed drones in Thursday's operations. On Wednesday, similar airstrikes were conducted in northern Syria and Iraq after the PKK was blamed for the attack on TUSAS headquarters.

Defence Minister Yasar Guler reported that 47 PKK targets were destroyed in Wednesday's airstrikes—29 in Iraq and 18 in Syria. "Our noble nation should rest assured that we will continue with increasing determination our struggle to eliminate the evil forces that threaten the security and peace of our country and people until the last terrorist disappears from this geography," Guler stated.

Details of the Attack

The assailants, identified as Mine Sevjin Alcicek and Ali Orek, arrived at TUSAS premises near Ankara by commandeering a taxi after killing its driver. Armed with rifles, they detonated explosives and opened fire, killing four people, including a security guard and a mechanical engineer. Security teams responded promptly to the attack, which began around 3:30 pm.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the attackers were PKK members. Both assailants died in the incident, which also injured over 20 people. There was no immediate response from the PKK regarding either the attack or Turkiye's airstrikes.

Impact in Syria

In Syria, Turkish strikes reportedly killed 12 civilians and injured 25 others. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces stated that Turkish warplanes and drones targeted bakeries, power stations, oil facilities, and local police checkpoints. Amir Samu from al Swediya oil refinery in Derik reported seven workers and guards killed in overnight strikes.

"They were all poor workers working in the refinery to make a living. It is a civil institution, not military or anything like that," Samu said. He added that al Swediya was crucial for supplying diesel, petrol, and gas to the area.

Political Developments

The attack occurred after discussions about potentially granting parole to Abdullah Ocalan, PKK's imprisoned leader since 1999. His nephew Omer Ocalan announced on social media that family members visited him for the first time since March 2020. Abdullah Ocalan expressed willingness to help end the conflict if conditions are favourable.

"I have the theoretical and practical power to transform this process from one grounded in conflict and violence to one that is grounded on law and politics," Omer Ocalan quoted his uncle as saying.

The PKK has been fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkiye since the 1980s, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. It is considered a terrorist organisation by Turkiye and its Western allies.

In Ankara, large crowds gathered at a mosque for funeral prayers for three victims of the attack, including Zahide Guclu—an engineer involved in a TUSAS helicopter project. She was killed when she went to collect flowers sent by her husband at the complex entrance.