From the Turkish Ministry of Defense:
”By neutralizing the PKK/KCK/YPG and other terrorist elements; In order to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people and security forces from northern Iraq and Syria, to ensure border security and to destroy terrorism at its source;
In line with our rights to self-defense arising from Article 51 of the United Nations Treaty, a CLAW SWORD AIR OPERATION was carried out in the regions in northern Iraq and Syria and used as a base for terrorists in attacks on our country.”
This all but confirms todays strikes were in retaliation of last Sunday’s Istanbul bombing.
