A banned Kurdish militant group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the headquarters of the aerospace and defense company TUSAS in Ankara. The attack, carried out by two members of the PKK's military wing, resulted in the deaths of at least five people and left more than 20 others injured.
The assailants, a man and a woman, stormed TUSAS’ premises, setting off explosives and opening fire. The woman assailant took her own life by detonating an explosive device after being injured, while the male attacker detonated himself in a nearby building. The Turkish government immediately attributed the attack to the PKK and launched aerial strikes on suspected PKK locations in northern Iraq and northern Syria.
The attack on TUSAS occurred amidst signs of a potential new dialogue to end the longstanding conflict between the PKK and the Turkish military. Recent discussions included the possibility of granting parole to Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned PKK leader, if he renounces violence and disbands the organization.
TUSAS, known for designing and manufacturing civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and defense systems, has been a key player in Turkey's fight against Kurdish militants. Following the attack, Turkish warplanes intensified airstrikes on PKK sites in northern Iraq, resulting in casualties among PKK fighters and local civilians.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to continue the fight against the PKK, emphasizing Turkey's determination to combat terrorism. In response to the attack, Turkish authorities detained numerous suspected PKK members across the country.
The PKK, labeled a terrorist group by Turkey and its Western allies, has been engaged in a decades-long conflict seeking autonomy in southeastern Turkey. The recent attack underscores the ongoing challenges in the region and the complexities of the conflict.
