Turkey has intensified its airstrikes targeting positions of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northeastern Syria, just hours after an attack carried out by unknown assailants, which Ankara described as “terrorist,” targeted a private military industries company in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense stated that its forces destroyed 32 “terrorist” sites in an air operation in northern Iraq and Syria since the evening of Wednesday, October 23.
It added that the attack was “in accordance with the right of self-defense as per Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.”
According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, the air operation aimed to eliminate the “threat of terrorist attacks targeting the Turkish people and forces and to ensure border security,” as reported by the Turkish Anadolu Agency.
The Turkish ministry noted that its air operations are still ongoing in Syria and Iraq.
This series of attacks came just hours after an assault in Ankara targeting a company specialized in military industries, with Turkey accusing the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) of being behind the attack.
Local reporters from Enab Baladi in al-Hasakah reported that Turkish bombardments have not ceased on SDF-controlled areas since yesterday, Wednesday, up to the time of preparing this news, as Turkish aircraft attacked dozens of military sites belonging to the SDF.
A reporter from Enab Baladi in Qamishli said that Turkish airstrikes did not only target military sites, but also hit the Saeeda and Swidiyah oil stations in eastern al-Hasakah governorate, along with a power transformer station in Amuda.
Local reporters from al-Hasakah indicated that the bombardment on various areas of the province resulted in casualties and injuries, including civilians, and the strikes extended to include the locations of the Internal Security Forces (Asayish).
SDF and AANES condemn Turkish attacks
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), which serves as the political umbrella for the SDF, condemned the Turkish attacks on its controlled areas in Syria, stating that the series of strikes resulted in deaths and injuries.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 24, it stated, “These attacks that target unarmed civilians represent a new war crime committed by the Turkish state against the Syrian people.”
It added that while Turkish officials promote their desire to end the war, the targeting of villages, cities, and infrastructure reveals their “aggressive intentions.”
It called on the international community to take a clear stance against the attacks and urged the International Coalition and Russian forces to assume their responsibilities regarding airspace control and to stop the “double standards and silence” that allow for the attacks.
SDF commander Mazloum Abdi stated via his account on “X” that Turkey is bombing SDF areas “indiscriminately without justification,” targeting service, health centers, and civilians.
He added that what is happening is a “real war crime,” emphasizing that the SDF has repeatedly shown its readiness for dialogue, but it asserts that its forces are prepared to defend our people and land.
The media center of the SDF published statistics of the damages caused by the bombardment; it stated that the ongoing strikes have resulted in the deaths of 12 civilians, including two children, and injuries to 25 others, some of whom are in serious condition.
It pointed out that areas populated with civilians, bakeries, electricity and oil stations, and the internal security checkpoints were targets for the military aircraft and drone bombardments, as well as Turkish artillery shelling, which targeted 42 sites, all of which were service and essential institutions, according to the SDF.
Following the Ankara attack
The assault that Turkish authorities described as “terrorist” targeted the Turkish aerospace industries company (TUSAŞ) in Ankara, resulting in deaths and injuries and the taking of hostages, and it ended with the death of the attackers.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated via his account on “X” on Wednesday that the attack resulted in deaths and injuries, without mentioning the responsible party behind the attack.
The Turkish Sabah newspaper reported that an attack using bombs and firearms targeted the Turkish Aerospace Industries company headquarters and published a video showing the aftermath of the attack, as emergency vehicles headed to the area along with security forces.
Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler stated following the attack that the “PKK” is responsible for the assault in Ankara.
He added, as reported by Turkish media, “We give the PKK the punishment they deserve every time, but they never become any smarter.”
No party has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, while the PKK is known for carrying out such operations.
Turkey has previously launched similar air campaigns after attacks described as “terrorist” attributed to the PKK, one of which occurred on Istiklal Street in Istanbul, while another targeted a gathering of government offices in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Turkey considers the SDF an extension of the PKK due to the dominance of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) over its military decision-making, which is the military wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), closely associated with the PKK.