The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a state-run Turkish defense firm in Ankara, confirming that two of its operatives carried out a violent assault on Wednesday that killed five people and injured 22 others. The attack targeted the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) headquarters in the Turkish capital, with automatic weapons and explosives used in the assault, according to a statement by the PKK.

In a message on Telegram, the PKK described the attack as “an act of sacrifice” by what they referred to as a team from their "immortals battalion." The incident occurred at approximately 15:30 local time on the TAI campus, causing substantial casualties and damage.

The Turkish government, which had earlier claimed to possess evidence of the PKK’s involvement, condemned the assault as an attack on national sovereignty. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized that the incident was a direct threat to “the survival of our country.”

Turkey Responds with Airstrikes on PKK Strongholds

In retaliation, Turkish military forces launched airstrikes on PKK targets in northern Iraq and Syria just hours after the attack. These strikes targeted the group’s positions, including their headquarters in the Kandil Mountains of northern Iraq.

The PKK, which began its armed struggle in the 1980s seeking cultural and political rights for the Kurdish population in Turkey, is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union. The organization’s violent tactics and ongoing conflict with the Turkish state have resulted in decades of unrest.

This escalation highlights Turkey’s ongoing campaign against the PKK, with Ankara reaffirming its commitment to military responses in the face of attacks on Turkish soil. The recent violence underscores the fragile security situation and ongoing tensions between the Turkish state and the PKK, raising concerns of further retaliation and regional instability.