Turkey launched airstrikes on suspected Kurdish militant targets in Syria and Iraq in response to an attack on a defense company that left at least five people dead. The strikes targeted various strategic locations used by the PKK and Syrian Kurdish militia, including military and energy facilities. Armed drones were utilized in the aerial offensive.
The attack on the defense company, TUSAS, was carried out by two assailants who arrived in a commandeered taxi and opened fire, killing four people. Security teams quickly responded to the incident, resulting in the deaths of the assailants and injuries to more than 20 individuals. The PKK has not issued a statement regarding the attack or the airstrikes.
In Syria, Turkish strikes allegedly killed 12 civilians and wounded 25, according to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. TUSAS, the targeted defense company, is known for its aircraft and defense systems that have aided Turkey in its fight against Kurdish militants.
The attack came shortly after discussions about potentially granting parole to PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in exchange for renouncing violence and disbanding the organization, which has been involved in a conflict with Turkey since the 1980s.