Perpetrator of the Ankara Suicide Bombing is From Syria, Turkey Ensures Kurdish Militant Facilities On The Cross-Border Of Legal Military Targets

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. (Wikimedia Commons/Downing Street 10/Simon Dawson)

JAKARTA - The Turkish government announced on Wednesday that all Kurdish militant facilities in Syria and Iraq were legitimate military targets, after it was discovered that the two suicide bombers in front of government buildings in Ankara at the weekend were from Syria.

The Turkish military carried out airstrikes in northern Iraq and carried out several raids across the country this week, in response to the attacks, detaining dozens of people suspected of having ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the attackers had entered Turkey via Syria and received training there, adding that Turkey's response would be "very appropriate".

"All infrastructure, superstructure, and energy facilities belonging to the PKK and YPG, especially in Iraq and Syria, from now on become legitimate targets of our security forces, armed forces, and intelligence units," he said, as reported by Reuters, October 5.

Turkey itself has carried out several cross-border attacks into northern Syria in recent years, targeting the YPG militia considered to be affiliated with the PKK which is now based in northern Iraq.

Meanwhile, the YPG is the spearhead of the main ally of the US-led coalition against ISIS. The support of the United States and other allies, including France, for the YPG has worsened relations with Ankara.

"I recommend that third parties stay away from facilities and people who are members of the PKK and YPG," said Fidan, referring to American, Russian, and French troops in the region.

Separately, Haberturk and other Turkish media reported Iraqi Defense Minister Thabet al-Abbasi will visit Ankara on Thursday to meet with his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler, after Iraq condemned Ankara's airstrikes this week.