In a swift response to a suicide attack in Ankara, Turkish warplanes have targeted and destroyed several bases of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) in northern Iraq. The attack in Turkey's capital was aimed at a ministry building and was orchestrated to coincide with the reopening of Turkey's parliament.
The initial phase of the attack saw a militant alight from a vehicle to hurl a small explosive at the ministry. This act served as a diversion, drawing the attention of security guards and enabling a second attacker to shoot at them. Following this, the second assailant detonated a suicide bomb. A thorough examination of the scene revealed an assortment of weapons, including four different types of guns, three hand grenades, a rocket launcher, and C-4 explosives.
The PKK, a Kurdish militant political entity, is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including Turkey, the U.S., and the European Union. However, this classification is a matter of contention. Some argue in favor of supporting the PKK for its role in combating jihadist factions, including ISIS.
Second angle of the moment 2 terrorists attacked the Ministry Buildings in Ankara,Turkey
One of the them blow himself up and the other was killed by authorities
Turkey air strikes Iraq,destroying 20 targets of the PKK after the attack in Ankara #Turkey #Turkish #Turkiye… pic.twitter.com/MShcnZ0KXv — North X (@__NorthX) October 1, 2023
Post the attack, the Turkish Ministry of Defence announced retaliatory airstrikes against those believed to be associated with the PKK. These strikes reportedly obliterated 20 targets, encompassing caves, bunkers, shelters, and warehouses. The Ministry stated that a significant number of terrorists were "neutralized" in these operations.
The Turkish Defence Ministry emphasized that the operation aimed to "neutralize the PKK and other terrorist elements, prevent terrorist attacks from northern Iraq against our population and our law enforcement agencies, and ensure the security of our borders."
Turkey's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed that two police officers were injured in the suicide explosion outside the ministry building. He further stated that both attackers, identified as terrorists, were killed - one during the suicide blast and the other was "neutralized." Yerlikaya reiterated Turkey's unwavering stance against terrorism, vowing to continue the fight until the eradication of the last terrorist.
In the aftermath of Turkey's counteraction, several of Iraq's PKK bases, specifically in Gara, Hakurk, Metina, and Qandil, were decimated. Preliminary investigations suggest that the attackers had commandeered a car in the city of Kayseri as part of their preparations. During this carjacking, they reportedly shot the driver, a 24-year-old veterinarian, in the head.
A news agency with close ties to the PKK reported that the organization had claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. The ANF news agency highlighted that the bombing was timed to coincide with the parliament's opening and was executed by a team affiliated with their "Immortals Battalion" group.
The ministry, situated in proximity to the parliament building, was targeted mere hours before its scheduled reopening post the summer hiatus. In his address marking the reopening of the parliament, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan labeled the attack as "the final flutters of terrorism" in Turkey, asserting that such malicious attempts to disrupt the nation's peace and security would always be thwarted.
