The perpetrators of the terror attack in Ankara infiltrated Türkiye from Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday.

“We have learned that this terror attack was a terrorist infiltration from Syria,” Mr Erdogan said to journalists on his flight back from Kazan, Russia, where he attended a BRICS summit.

He added that operations against those terrorists were carried out at 40 different locations throughout the night.

“We continue our efforts to eradicate terrorism at its source completely. If the source of the terror is Syria, then wherever it originates, we will do what is necessary, as we did last night.

“We will proceed with the same determination in the future,” he said.

Two assailants, a man and a woman, carried out the terror attack on the production facilities of the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) in Ankara on Wednesday.

Both attackers have been confirmed as members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), according to Turkish authorities.

The attack, which involved automatic rifles and explosives, resulted in five deaths and 22 injuries.

Early Friday, the Defense Ministry announced that Turkish air strikes across northern Iraq successfully destroyed 34 PKK targets and “neutralised” numerous terrorists.

The operation, which took place in the Hakurk, Gara, Qandil, and Sinjar regions late Thursday, destroyed caves, shelters, hideouts, depots, and other facilities belonging to the group, said a ministry statement.

Turkish authorities often use the term “neutralise” to indicate that the alleged terrorists have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured.

Türkiye has been conducting cross-border operations in Iraq and Syria to target PKK and Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) hideouts. Türkiye considers the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organisation by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has been rebelling against the Turkish government for more than three decades. 

(Xinhua/NAN)