Late Wednesday night, the Turkish Air Force launched a series of airstrikes targeting positions held by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in northern Syria and Iraq. The strikes were a direct response to an earlier deadly attack on the headquarters of a prominent Turkish defense contractor near Ankara, which claimed the lives of five people and left 22 others injured.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense confirmed the retaliatory strikes, stating that 32 PKK targets were destroyed in the operation, and additional air operations were ongoing. The ministry also reiterated Turkey’s firm stance on counter-terrorism, emphasizing that the country would continue its military operations against the PKK until “not a single terrorist remains.”
Earlier in the day, an attack targeted the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TUSAŞ) near Ankara, where the company manufactures and assembles both military and civilian aircraft. Turkish authorities, including Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, said the PKK was “likely” responsible for the attack, although no group has officially claimed responsibility.
TUSAŞ, a state-owned defense manufacturer, plays a critical role in Turkey’s defense infrastructure, and the attack has been seen as a direct challenge to the country’s military capabilities. The facility produces cutting-edge technology and aircraft, ranging from combat helicopters to drones, which are integral to Turkey’s military efforts, both domestically and in operations abroad.
According to Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu, five people were killed and 22 others were injured during the attack. The shockwaves from this violence have once again heightened tensions between Turkey and the PKK, a Kurdish militant group that has been involved in a long-standing conflict with the Turkish state for several decades.
Wednesday’s violence underscores a renewed escalation in the decades-long conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which the Turkish government and several of its Western allies, including the United States, have designated as a terrorist organization. The PKK has waged an insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s, seeking autonomy and greater rights for Kurds within Turkey. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people over the years.
In recent months, tensions between Turkey and Kurdish militant groups have intensified. Turkey has frequently carried out cross-border military operations against PKK positions in northern Iraq and Syria, targeting what it claims are PKK strongholds. These operations have been part of a broader Turkish effort to contain the influence of Kurdish groups across the region, particularly in areas where Kurdish forces played a significant role in the fight against ISIS.
The Turkish government views the PKK as an existential threat, and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has vowed to intensify military operations against the group. This latest series of airstrikes fits into that broader strategy, with Erdoğan promising that Turkey’s armed forces would continue to pursue PKK militants in Iraq and Syria without respite.
The airstrikes late Wednesday came just hours after the attack on TUSAŞ, marking a swift and decisive retaliation. According to reports from Anadolu, the Turkish military’s operation targeted key PKK facilities, including ammunition depots, bunkers, and hideouts. The defense ministry released a statement saying the strikes were aimed at “neutralizing terrorist elements” that posed a direct threat to Turkish security.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have extensive experience conducting cross-border operations in northern Iraq and Syria, where the PKK maintains bases and operates in close coordination with other Kurdish groups. The TSK has previously deployed ground troops, conducted airstrikes, and used drone technology in an effort to dismantle PKK networks in these regions. Wednesday’s operation appeared to follow this familiar pattern, with a focus on precision strikes designed to minimize civilian casualties while maximizing damage to PKK infrastructure.
Despite Turkey’s efforts, the PKK has proven resilient, frequently regrouping after major military operations. However, Turkish military officials have been keen to emphasize that their recent operations have significantly weakened the PKK’s ability to carry out large-scale attacks. According to the Turkish defense ministry, dozens of PKK members have been killed in previous operations over the past few months.
The conflict between Turkey and the PKK is deeply intertwined with broader regional dynamics in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq. In both countries, the PKK has established strongholds, taking advantage of local instability to bolster its presence and operational capabilities. In northern Syria, the Syrian Kurdish group known as the People’s Protection Units (YPG) has been a key ally in the U.S.-led fight against ISIS. However, Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK and has sought to weaken its influence along its southern border.
Turkey’s cross-border operations have also placed strain on its relationships with both Iraq and the United States. In Iraq, Turkish airstrikes have occasionally led to civilian casualties, provoking protests from the Iraqi government, which has called for an end to Turkish incursions on its territory. Despite this, Turkey has continued its operations, citing the threat posed by the PKK’s presence in northern Iraq.
In Syria, the situation is more complicated. While the U.S. continues to support Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIS, it has sought to manage tensions between Turkey and its Kurdish allies. This delicate balancing act has often resulted in friction between Ankara and Washington, particularly as Turkey has made clear that it views any Kurdish military presence near its border as a security threat.
The situation in northern Syria is further complicated by the presence of multiple international actors, including Russia and Iran, each with their own strategic interests. Turkey’s military operations in the region often intersect with the broader geopolitical chess game playing out in Syria, where various factions, including remnants of ISIS, Kurdish forces, and Syrian government troops, vie for control.
The PKK has shown a capacity to evolve its tactics over the years, shifting from rural guerrilla warfare to urban insurgency in some cases. It has also sought to build political support among Kurdish populations in Turkey and beyond, leveraging grievances over Kurdish rights and identity to fuel its insurgency.
The attack on the TUSAŞ headquarters signals a shift in the PKK’s strategy, as the group has increasingly targeted strategic assets in recent years. By hitting a key player in Turkey’s defense industry, the PKK is likely attempting to undermine the state’s military capabilities while sending a symbolic message about its continued relevance in the conflict.
In response, Turkey has adopted a multi-pronged counterinsurgency strategy that includes military action, economic development in Kurdish-populated areas, and efforts to co-opt segments of the Kurdish population through political engagement. However, efforts to find a political solution to the Kurdish issue have repeatedly faltered, with peace talks between Turkey and the PKK collapsing in 2015, leading to the resumption of full-scale hostilities.
Turkey’s approach has also included crackdowns on domestic political movements linked to the Kurdish cause. The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has faced increasing pressure from the government, with many of its leaders imprisoned or facing legal challenges. This has further complicated the prospects for peace, as the political space for Kurdish grievances has shrunk under Erdoğan’s administration.
