IRIA News

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Turkey’s air force launched strikes on Kurdish militant positions in Iraq and Syria on October 23, 2024, in response to an attack on a major state-run defense company near Ankara that killed five people and injured over a dozen others.

Turkish Ministry of Defense reported that more than 30 targets were “destroyed” in the air assault, though specific locations were not disclosed. The strike followed an earlier incident in which suspected Kurdish militants detonated explosives and opened fire at the TUSAS aerospace and defense company, also known as Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). Both attackers, a man and a woman, were killed, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The violent assault at the TAI headquarters in Ankara marked a grim day for the nation’s defense industry. The attack occurred in the Kahramankazan district, home to TAI’s central complex, which plays a pivotal role in Turkey’s aerospace and defense sectors. Turkish officials have blamed the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for orchestrating the attack, reigniting long-standing tensions between Ankara and the Kurdish militant group.

How the attack unfolded

According to Turkish media three individuals including a woman, arrived at TAI’s headquarters by taxi. The group, armed with assault rifles, detonated an explosive device near the entrance of the compound. This blast created chaos and enabled them to penetrate the high-security area, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire between the attackers and security forces.

The assault, which took place in broad daylight, saw multiple rounds of gunfire erupt after Turkish security forces quickly responded to the scene. Helicopters were seen circling the skies as medical teams rushed to tend to the injured. While the Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that two of the attackers were “neutralized,” the damage had already been done.

While speaking to the media, one TAI employee described the terror and confusion within the complex during the assault. “We were told it was an act of terrorism and that we should not leave our positions,” the employee said. The clash reportedly broke out near the entrance gate of the facility, where security forces finally subdued the attackers.

Turkiye’s reaction and retaliation

The attack prompted swift condemnation from top Turkish officials. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted to the terror attack from Kazan, Russia, where he was attending a BRICS summit. Erdogan denounced the act of terror and said “I condemn this heinous terrorist attack and wish mercy on our martyrs.”

Defense Minister Yasar Guler directly said that the PKK was responsible for orchestrating the attack, stating, “Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants were behind the attack.” Guler, whose ministry has waged a relentless campaign against PKK militants for decades, vowed to continue the fight. “We give these PKK scoundrels the punishment they deserve each time, but they never learn,” Guler remarked, adding, “We will continue to pursue them relentlessly until the last terrorist is eliminated.”

Interior Minister Yerlikaya expressed his condolences to the victims and said that special operations units, police, and gendarmerie forces had responded promptly to the incident. The response led to the neutralization of two terrorists, but no further details were given about the third assailant.

The PKK, recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., the EU, and several other countries, has been engaged in an armed insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, primarily seeking greater autonomy for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.

Wednesday’s attack at TAI is the latest in a string of violent incidents involving the PKK. Just over a year ago, suicide bombers affiliated with the group attacked a government building in Ankara. In the wake of this week’s attack, Turkish authorities wasted no time in taking decisive action. The country’s chief public prosecutor’s office started investigating the attack.

International condemnation of terror attack

The deadly attack on the Turkish aerospace and defense firm drew widespread international condemnation.

EU — Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, condemned the violence in a post on X. “We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms. The EU expresses solidarity with Türkiye in this difficult time,” Borrell wrote.

Russia — During his meeting with Erdogan in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences following the attack.

NATO — NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also conveyed support to Turkey, stating, “NATO stands with Turkey.”

I just spoke with w/ @RTErdogan about the terror attack in #Ankara. My message was clear: #NATO stands with #Türkiye

— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) October 23, 2024

U.S. — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken “strongly” condemned the terror attack on TUSAS. “The United States stands with our Ally Türkiye and strongly condemns today’s terrorist attack. My thoughts are with the victims and their families,” Blinken wrote on X.

Azerbaijan — Turkiye’s closest ally Azerbaijan denounced the attack, adding that Baku would always be on the side of “its brother, Türkiye.”

France — French President Emmanuel Macron condemned “the terrorist attack that hit Ankara in the strongest terms,” in a post on X. He added that the French people “share the pain of the families of those who lost their lives in the attack and offer our condolences to them.”

Germany — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a social media post: “I am shocked by the reports of the dead and injured in Ankara. We strongly condemn terrorism in any form and stand by our partner Türkiye.”

Latest attack targets Turkey’s defense industry

TAI is a cornerstone of Turkey’s defense and aerospace ambitions. The company, founded in 1984, has become a leading player in the sector, specializing in the design, development, and manufacturing of advanced aerospace systems. Its projects include the “Hürjet,” an advanced jet trainer and light combat aircraft, as well as a range of drones, helicopters, and satellite technologies.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz suggested that the target of the attack was not arbitrary. “It should be known that these attacks will not be able to deter the heroic employees of the defense industry,” he posted on X, emphasizing that Turkey’s progress in the sector will not be hindered by such acts of violence.