Turkish Air Force Targets PKK Facilities in Northern Syria
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Turkish Air Force launched airstrikes on facilities belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated organizations in northern regions of Syria, as confirmed by the Turkish Defense Ministry in a statement issued on Friday.
"In the course of an air assault operation, held at 11:00 p.m. [local time] on October 5, the Air Force struck terrorist facilities in northern Syrian regions of Tell Rifat, Jazira, and Derik. A total of 30 targets were destroyed, including an oil well and a storage facility, along with shelters and caves where high-ranking members of the terrorist organization were hiding, according to available information," TASS reported, citing Turkish ministry.
The operation's primary objective was "preventing terror attacks from Syria's north, targeting the people of Turkey and its security forces" by eliminating the PKK and its Syrian armed wing, the People's Protection Units, also known as YPG.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry stated that "a large number of terrorists were eliminated" as a result of the airstrikes.
The Turkish army additionally confirmed the elimination of 26 PKK militants in northern Syria within the area of Operation Euphrates Shield. "Our servicemen gave a decisive response to the terrorists who launched an attack last night near our Dabuk base in the area of Operation Euphrates Shield. Twenty-six PKK terrorists were eliminated," the statement read.
Turkey considers the PKK a major threat to its national security and regularly conducts operations against Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria while maintaining a significant troop presence in the region.
Thursday's airstrikes mark the latest in a series of Turkish attacks on PKK facilities near Turkey's southern borders. Following the October 1 attack on the Turkish Interior Ministry's office in Ankara, the country has carried out three airborne operations in Northern Iraq, resulting in the destruction of approximately 60 PKK facilities. The PKK is designated as a terrorist organization in Turkey.
