Turkish jets hit targets in Syria, Iraq after Istanbul bomb blast
Al JazeeraDec 24, 2022
Rocket Attack Against Turkish Border Town Kills 2
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Image copyright: Baderkhan Ahmad/AP [via The Wall Street Journal]
The Facts
According to Turkish officials, three people were killed after rockets fired from Syria hit the Turkish district of Karkamis, near the Syrian border on Monday. Ankara claims that the attack was committed by the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia in northern Syria.
Five rockets were reportedly fired, one of them hitting a school, leaving ten people injured, two of them seriously.
The Spin
Narrative A
Turkey is exercising its right to fight terrorism on its borders. The PKK is using Syria and Iraq as launchpads to conduct terrorist attacks in Turkish territory, like the tragic bombing in Istanbul earlier this month. Ankara's retaliation against Kurdish terrorist targets successfully helped to protect the Turkish people and the border.
Narrative B
Turkey is playing with fire, as it continues to act aggressively against the Kurdish people. The SDF has fully denied any involvement in the attack in Istanbul, and a Turkish offensive into northern Syria would seriously endanger the SDF's fight against the Islamic State (IS) in the area. Ankara cannot be allowed to attack the Kurdish people without repercussions.
