In response to the explosion that killed more than 80 people in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, the Turkish military retaliated by airstrikes on Kurdish militia bases in neighboring Syria and Iraq, while the Kurdish militants fired rockets. 21 people, including children, were killed and injured in a series of attacks on southern Turkey, and the exchange continues.
The Turkish government has accused the Kurdish Workers' Party of Pakistan (PKK), which Turkey and the West designate as a terrorist organization, of terrorism, over the explosion that killed 87 people in the downtown area of Istanbul on November 13. In retaliation, it announced on the 20th that it had carried out airstrikes against Kurdish militia bases in neighboring Syria and Iraq.
On the other hand, the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is mainly based in Kurdish armed groups and has bases in northern Syria, has shown its stance of utter resistance, stating that it will "fulfill its historical mission and continue to fight with a strong will." A series of rocket and mortar attacks hit the town of Karkamush, which borders Syria, and hit homes and school grounds.
The attack killed two people, including a child, and injured 19 others.
In response, Turkey continues to respond by firing artillery at Kurdish armed groups in Syria.
Turkish media reported that President Erdoğan said, ``The operation will not end in the sky,'' and indicated that he was willing to deploy ground forces, which is expected to further increase tensions.