Turkey hits targets in Iraq, Syria after terror attack on its aerospace HQ

Turkish Aerospace Industries, where the attack occurred, is one of Turkey's most important defence and aviation companies.

In Short

• Gunmen breach Turkish Aerospace Industries headquarters
• Explosion, gunfire heard at site, Erdogan confirms casualties
• TUSAS is key in Turkey's defence aviation sector

Turkey hit Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets in northern Iraq and Syria, hours after a terror attack at the headquarters of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) near Ankara, the country's Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.

After four people were killed and over a dozen others were wounded in the attack, Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that it was highly likely that the attack was carried out by PKK members, news agency Reuters reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, explosions and gunshots were heard as the attackers, armed with assault rifles, breached the TUSAS facility.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is in Russia's Kazan for Brics Summit, condemned the terror attack. The country's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, confirmed that two terrorists were killed.

Security footage broadcast by local media revealed a group of assailants arriving at the complex in a taxi during a shift change among security personnel.

At least one of the attackers detonated a bomb, and further gunfire ensued, as per a report by the Associated Press. The explosion caused panic and created an opening for the gunmen, which included a woman, to enter the company premises. Private NTV television said that personnel inside the complex may have been taken hostage.

While the exact cause and nature of the attack remain unclear, some media reports have speculated that a suicide bombing may have been involved. Emergency services, including security forces, ambulances, and firefighters, were quickly dispatched to the scene, according to state-owned Anadolu Agency.

Television broadcasts showed a damaged gate and clashes in a parking area near the facility. Helicopters were seen flying over the site as authorities responded to the unfolding situation.

TUSAS, a state-run enterprise, is central to Turkey’s defence industry, producing both civilian and military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and space systems. Among its key projects is the KAAN, Turkey’s first national combat aircraft. Given its strategic importance, the company has been targeted in past attacks by various militant groups, including Kurdish militants, Islamic State affiliates, and leftist extremists, though no group has yet claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s assault.

Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) condemned the attack on ally Turkey and said its keeping a close eye on the situation.

"Deeply concerning reports of dead and wounded in Ankara. Nato stands with our Ally Turkey. We strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and are monitoring developments closely," Mark Rutte, heal of the military alliance, said on X.

(With inputs from Reuters, Associated Press)