Turkey launches airstrikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq, Syria

New Delhi, Jan 13: Against the backdrop of global attention on Yemen and Gaza, the spotlight shifts to Turkey as it conducts airstrikes in Iraq and Syria. The Turkish defence ministry reported that the overnight air raids targeted what they deemed as "terrorist targets" in retaliation for the killing of nine Turkish soldiers at a military base in Iraq.

The strikes focused on 29 locations, encompassing "caves, bunkers, shelters, and oil installations" affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. Turkey categorises both groups as terrorist entities, while the PKK is similarly labelled as such by many Western nations, including the UK and the US.

As the violence unfolds in the region, Turkey's longstanding campaign against the PKK takes centre stage, adding another layer to the complex geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.

The developments highlight the broader challenges and tensions in the area, even as global attention remains fixed on ongoing conflicts in Yemen and Gaza.