Turkey strikes Iraq, Syria after attack on defence company near Ankara

Turkey says it hit targets linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which it blames for the attack on TUSAS.

Turkey’s Air Force has struck Kurdish targets in Iraq and Syria in apparent retaliation for an attack on a key state-run defence company that killed five people and wounded more than 20.

The Ministry of National Defence said 32 targets were “destroyed” in the aerial offensive on Wednesday, without providing details on the locations that were hit. It said “all kinds of precautions” were taken to prevent harm to civilians.

The strikes came hours after suspected Kurdish fighters set off explosives and opened fire at the aerospace and defence company TUSAS, which designs, manufactures and assembles civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other defence industry and space systems.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) was believed to be behind the attack. Defence Minister Yasar Guler also pointed his finger at the PKK.

“We give these PKK scoundrels the punishment they deserve every time. But they never come to their senses,” Guler said. “We will pursue them until the last terrorist is eliminated.”