Source: CCTV Finance
The Turkish Ministry of Defense issued a statement on the 20th local time, saying that air military operations were launched in Syria and northern Iraq in the early morning of the same day to combat Kurdistan Workers' Party forces. The operation is believed to be Turkey's retaliation in response to the recent bombing in Istanbul.
According to Turkish media reports, on the same day, Turkish armed forces crossed the border to strike at Syria and northern Iraq, targeting the Kurdistan Workers' Party listed as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government and the Syrian Kurdish armed "People's Protection Units".
Analysts said the military operation by the Turkish Defense Ministry was retaliation for the Nov. 13 bombing on Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue. On the 13th local time, an explosion occurred on Independence Avenue in the center of Istanbul, Turkey, killing at least 6 people and injuring 81 people. Turkish police have arrested one suspect in carrying out the bombing, as have 45 others involved.
Turkish police said the Syrian female suspect who planted the bomb admitted that she was trained as a special intelligence agent by the Syrian branch of the PKK to carry out the attack after receiving orders to act. However, so far, the PKK and the Syrian Kurdish armed "People's Protection Units" have denied any involvement.
In addition, on the 19th local time, the Bulgarian prosecutor's department said that 5 people were arrested on the same day, who were suspected of participating in the bombing attack in Istanbul, Turkey on the 13th, and will face many charges such as engaging in terrorist activities.
A spokesman for the Bulgarian prosecution said the arrest was based on information provided by Turkish law enforcement and that the five people arrested had been involved in related logistics operations after the bombing attack. At present, Turkish prosecutors have requested the extradition of suspects suspected of involvement in the bombing.