Did Israeli FM’s Comments Encourage PKK Attacks Against Turkey?

PKK Wing Vows to Attack Big Cities

Following up with their claim of responsibility for the recent bombing attacks in Ankara and Kemer, the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) wing the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) is now threatening to launch additional attacks against Turkish targets.

“Big Turkish cities will be our main targets,” the statement warned. This is a significant change in tactics, as well as aggression, from an organization that in the past has mostly centered its attacks on ambushing Turkish soldiers and fleeing across the border to neighboring Iraq.

The growing aggression by the PKK comes just in the two weeks after Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was reported to be pushing for the Israeli government to arm the militant faction to “punish” Turkey.

The rest of the Israeli government rejected the idea, and there is no indication that an arms transfer has happened or even will happen. Still, the suddenness of the proposal may have convinced the organization that a more high profile series of attacks on civilians will not only garner more publicity but could even net them some serious backers elsewhere in the region.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.