Turkey Bombs Kurdish Militia in Reprisal For Istanbul Attack
- Jets pounded militant positions in Iraq, Syria overnight
- Turkey blames PKK, PYD for Istanbul bombing a week ago
An ambulance leaves the blast site of an explosion on Istiklal street in Istanbul on Nov. 13.
Photographer: Burak Kara/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Turkey carried out air strikes against US-backed Kurdish militant groups in Iraq and northern Syria in retaliation for a deadly bombing that targeted civilians in Istanbul a week ago.
The offensive could shore up flagging domestic support for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the 2023 election. Yet it risks stoking tensions with Washington, which supports Kurdish forces who have played a major role in the US-led effort to defeat Islamic State.