Escalating Tensions: Turkey's Tumultuous History of Militant Attacks

A recent attack on Turkey's largest aerospace manufacturer reignites concerns over the country's history of militant attacks attributed to groups like the PKK and the Islamic State. These violent incidents have occurred frequently from 2015 to 2024, highlighting ongoing security tensions in Turkey.

In a brazen attack on Wednesday, two assailants targeted Turkey's largest aerospace manufacturer, TUSAS, leaving five dead and 22 injured. The attack, situated in Ankara, has been attributed to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group by Turkish authorities, although no group has claimed responsibility.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed at least one of the attackers was a PKK member, sparking immediate retaliatory air strikes on PKK targets in Syria and Iraq. This assault is a grim reminder of Turkey's frequent encounters with militant violence between 2015 and 2017, associated with both the PKK and the Islamic State.

In past years, Turkey has faced numerous deadly attacks, such as the dual bombings outside a soccer stadium in Istanbul in December 2016 that claimed 44 lives, mostly police officers. These incidents underscore the persistent threat of militancy Turkey has endured, with a wide range of perpetrators, including Islamic State-linked individuals and PKK affiliates.

(With inputs from agencies.)