Türkiye blames Kurdish fighters for attacking defense company

Türkiye says Wednesday’s attack on the aerospace and defense company was carried out by two members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The Turkish government said five people were killed and 22 injured in a shootout between two attackers and security forces at the headquarters of Turkish Aerospace Industries near the capital Ankara. The attackers died in battle.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Thursday that the two attackers had been identified as members of the PKK, which the Turkish government and Western countries have designated a terrorist group.

The Turkish government said it had carried out airstrikes on 47 terrorist targets in northern Iraq and northern Syria.

Türkiye has been a victim of PKK attacks in the past. The Turkish military retaliated by striking targets of Kurdish fighters allegedly linked to the PKK in northern Iraq and northern Syria.

Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler stressed that military operations “will continue decisively and uncompromisingly.”