### Turkey Strikes Kurdish Militant Sites in Iraq and Syria Following Deadly Ankara Attack

Turkey's government announced that its military has launched strikes in Iraq and Syria against sites linked to the Kurdish militant group PKK. This decision comes after the Turkish government attributed a devastating attack near Ankara, which resulted in the deaths of five people and left 22 others injured, to the PKK. The operation has reportedly led to the death of 59 individuals labeled as "terrorists" by Turkey.

Various videos from the incident on Wednesday showed at least two attackers firing guns around the entrance of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), a facility located 40km (25 miles) from the capital. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the act, calling it "heinous" in a post on X, while Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya identified the attackers as PKK members Ali Orek and Mine Sevjin Alcicek.

In retaliation, the Turkish defense ministry reported the elimination of 47 targets, including caves, shelters, warehouses, and other facilities in northern Iraq and Syria since Wednesday night. Among the casualties from these strikes were reportedly 12 civilians in the north and east of the country, as stated by a Kurdish-led militia in Syria.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights added that Turkish warplanes and drones have targeted infrastructure in several Syrian cities, including Hasakah, Raqqa, Kobani, Manbaj, and Tal Rifaat. They noted the attacks hit a checkpoint near a train station, a bakery, and a power station. Despite this, the Turkish defense ministry emphasized that precautions were taken to minimize harm to civilians and protect historical and cultural assets.

The victims of the original attack near Ankara have been identified by Turkey's state-run news agency as TAI employees Cengiz Coskun, Zahide Guclu, Atakan Sahin Erdogan, Huseyin Canbaz, and taxi driver Murat Arslan. It was reported that the attackers had killed the taxi driver before using his vehicle to carry out their plan.

The incident has also led to a media blackout imposed by Turkish authorities, with significant restrictions on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and X. The president of Turkey's Radio and TV Supreme Council, Ebubekir Sahin, instructed the removal of all images related to the incident from social media to prevent them from aiding terrorist objectives.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his horror at the attack in Ankara, asserting that the UK stands in solidarity with Turkey as a NATO ally. President Erdogan, who was in Russia for the BRICS summit during the attack, reiterated his condemnation of the "vile terror attack" in remarks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

TAI plays a crucial role in Turkey's aerospace industry, including manufacturing and modernizing aircraft for both commercial and military purposes. The attack occurred during a significant trade fair for the defense and aerospace industries in Istanbul, highlighting the company's strategic importance.