Who Are The PKK? Exploring Turkey’s Blame In The Recent Ankara Attack

In a swift response to a deadly attack on its state-run defense company, Turkey launched airstrikes on Kurdish militant targets in Syria and Iraq. This action comes just hours after five people were killed, and 14 others were injured in what Turkish authorities labeled a terror attack at the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) headquarters near Ankara.

Attack on Turkish Defense Firm

The assault on Wednesday, which saw a loud explosion and gunfire, targeted the TUSAS site. Suspected Kurdish militants reportedly detonated explosives and opened fire during the attack, which claimed the lives of four employees and a taxi driver, as reported by the BBC. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that two attackers and a civilian woman were also killed during the incident. The minister suggested that the militants involved were likely members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish rebel group that has long been a thorn in Turkey’s side.

In retaliation for the attack, Turkey launched a series of airstrikes targeting over 30 sites linked to the PKK in an aerial defensive operation. Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler also pointed to the PKK’s involvement, emphasizing that the investigation is still ongoing to confirm the identities of the assailants.

Who are the PKK?

The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is a Kurdish rebel group labeled as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the UK, the US, and the European Union. The PKK has been fighting for Kurdish autonomy and rights in Turkey for decades, with its leader Abdullah Ocalan imprisoned since 1999. The Kurdish population, which constitutes around 20% of Turkey’s demographic, has faced historical marginalization, fueling the group’s insurgency.

The incident marks the latest escalation in the long-standing conflict between Turkey and Kurdish militants, with fears of further violence as tensions rise.