Turkish forces conducted airstrikes against positions tied to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party in northern Iraq, a response linked to an attempted terrorist assault in central Ankara. The announcement came from the Turkish Ministry of Defense, which outlined the operation as a focused strike against insurgent targets. In its official statement, the ministry noted that air strikes were directed at terrorist sites across Metina, Hakurk, Kandil, and Gara in northern Iraq. The ministry’s figures indicate the destruction of numerous facilities and the neutralization of a substantial number of militants, underscoring what officials described as a decisive action against ongoing threats.
The day began with an attack near the Ministry of Internal Affairs building in Ankara, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and injuring several others. One attacker detonated a suicide device, while another assailant was halted by security forces. Reports indicate that gunfire preceded the explosion, escalating the violence in a tightly watched area.
Nearby, the Parliament building hosts MPs for the first session following the summer recess, a scene that heightened vigilance across government precincts as authorities investigated the broader implications of the incident.
Security personnel subsequently recovered a cache at the attack site in Ankara, including roughly 10 kilograms of explosive material along with various weapons and ammunition, pointing to a planned, well-resourced assault.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the morning assault as the terrorists’ final effort to strike the nation, framing the event as a last, desperate bid by hostile elements. The president’s comments reflected a determination to resume normal governance while sustaining heightened security measures.
The PKK, previously prohibited in Turkey, asserted responsibility for the Ankara incident, signaling its involvement in the attempted disruption and reiterating its ongoing campaign in the region. Officials emphasized that the threat remains ongoing and that security forces will continue to take all necessary steps to protect civilians and public institutions.