Türkiye targets PKK bases in Northern Iraq and Syria after Ankara 'terror' attack

Türkiye has launched airstrikes on alleged PKK targets in northern Iraq and Syria, just hours after an armed attack on a military facility in the capital Ankara that left five dead.

In apparent retaliation, the defense ministry claims that 41 Kurdish militants were killed in cross-border strikes, which reportedly destroyed 47 PKK targets. The strikes are claimed to have targeted ammunition dumps, military depots, and logistical and intelligence infrastructure.

Sites associated with the Syrian based YPG People's Protection Units, that has close ties to the PKK, were also hit. The ministry added that "precautions" were taken to prevent damage to civilians. However, the Syrian Democratic Forces has said that the strikes killed 12 civilians, including 2 children, and had wounded 25 others.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack on the headquarters of Tusaş, the state-backed national aerospace company, on the outskirts of Ankara on Wednesday, that also left more than 20 people injured.

Two attackers were "neutralized" by security forces after a large explosion and gunfire at the site, at just after 4pm local time. Speaking from the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Türkiye's President Erdogan denounced what he called "a heinous terrorist attack".

In a post on social media, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said it was "very likely" that the PKK was responsible. In a later updates, he named the two shot dead by security forces as "Ali Örek, codenamed Rojger" and "Mine Sevjin Alçiçek", adding "both terrorists were members of the PKK."

Tusaş is one of Türkiye's most important defence and aerospace manufacturers, producing the first national combat aircraft, the "KAAN", which the ruling AKP government says will become the backbone of the republic's future air combat fleet.

The Ankara attack and air strikes on Syria and Iraq come after Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the nationalist MHP party and ally to Erdoğan's AK party, invited jailed PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan to address the Turkish parliament, in exchange for possible peace talk that would lead to a ceasefire and the disbanding the group.

The offer has sent shockwaves through Türkiye, where the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) remains the nemesis of a wide cross-section of Turkish society, including republicans, Islamists and right-wing nationalists. The AKP has traditionally ruled out direct negotiations with the armed group.

Defending his comments, Bahceli said an outreach to the PKK could "break the shackles of Türkiye", in reference to the state's 40-year conflict with armed militants.

The country's main pro-Kurdish DEM party condemned the Tusaş attack, noting it had come at a time when possible new efforts to resolve Türkiye's age-old Kurdish question may be underway.

From his prison cell in Edrine, the party's jailed former co-chair Selahattin Demirtas wrote on social media: "If Öcalan takes the initiative and wants to pave the way for politics, we will be behind him with all our strength", adding: "We will not accept any approach aimed at discrediting democratic politics and the search for peace."

The PKK remains a listed terrorist group across much of the world, including Europe and the U.S. International condemnation of the Ankara attack has been swift. On X, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had spoken to President Erdogan, stating: "My message was clear: #NATO stands with #Türkiye."

Also at the Kazan summit, Russia's President Vladimir Putin gave "condolences in connection with the terrorist attack", while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "The United States stands with our ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today's terrorist attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families."

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday