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<p>Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword air raids against outlawed Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, almost a week after a deadly blast in central Istanbul, the defence minister said.&nbsp;“We are starting Operation Claw-Sword from now on,” said Türkiye's defence minister Hulusi Akar as per an AFP report. A defence ministry statement said he directed the offensive from the air force operations centre with top commanders, before the planes left their bases to hit the targets.<br />
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Türkiye's air force launched an attack on Kurdish bases in northern Syria.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Turkish defence ministry tweeted, “The hour of reckoning has come.” In another post, the ministry shared a video of the Kurdish base being hit with precision strikes.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="tr">Hesap zamanı!<br />
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Alçaklardan hain saldırıların hesabı soruluyor! 🇹🇷 <a href="https://t.co/pnEbFDkOF7">pic.twitter.com/pnEbFDkOF7</a></p>
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) <a href="https://twitter.com/tcsavunma/status/1594091275841523712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="tr">Terör yuvaları tam isabet vuruşlarla yerle bir ediliyor! 🇹🇷 <a href="https://t.co/9jiFRn0hej">pic.twitter.com/9jiFRn0hej</a></p>
— T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) <a href="https://twitter.com/tcsavunma/status/1594107015684845568?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>British-based war monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that at least 31 people have been killed so far in the air raids.</p>

<p>Notably, Türkiye has blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliate Syria Kurdish groups for the blast that rocked central Istanbul last week, killing 13.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/istanbul-street-blast-suspect-arrested-533893"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Istanbul street blast suspect arrested</strong></a></p>

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<p>According to reports, the target of Turkish attacks has been the northern Syrian border city of Kobane. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that the city had been targetted in the attacks.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Kobane, the city that defeated ISIS, is subjected to bombardment by the aircraft of the Turkish occupation,” tweeted SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">updated<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kobane?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kobane</a>, the city that defeated ISIS, is subjected to bombardment by the aircraft of the Turkish occupation.</p>
— Farhad Shami (@farhad_shami) <a href="https://twitter.com/farhad_shami/status/1594078360015196160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>“The Turkish occupation aircraft are shelling the al-Beilonya village which is heavily populated with Afrin IDPs who were forcibly displaced from Afrin in 2018,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu in the aftermath of the blast&nbsp;said that the order for the attack was given in Kobane, where Turkish forces have carried out operations against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in recent years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Soylu added that the bomber had passed through Afrin, another region in northern Syria, which has been bombed by Turkish jets on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/twenty-two-including-bomber-detained-for-istanbul-blast-that-killed-6-533922" target="_blank"><strong>Read more: Forty-six, including Syrian woman accused of planting the bomb, detained for Istanbul blast</strong></a></p>

<p>The PKK and YPG have denied any involvement in the blast. Meanwhile, Turkish police has captured the chief suspect Alham Albashir -- a Syrian woman who is said to have been working for Kurdish militants, in an Istanbul suburb.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword air raids against outlawed Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, almost a week after a deadly blast in central Istanbul, the defence minister said.

Türkiye launched Operation Claw-Sword air raids against outlawed Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria on Sunday, almost a week after a deadly blast in central Istanbul, the defence minister said. “We are starting Operation Claw-Sword from now on,” said Türkiye's defence minister Hulusi Akar as per an AFP report. A defence ministry statement said he directed the offensive from the air force operations centre with top commanders, before the planes left their bases to hit the targets. Türkiye's air force launched an attack on Kurdish bases in northern Syria. The Turkish defence ministry tweeted, “The hour of reckoning has come.” In another post, the ministry shared a video of the Kurdish base being hit with precision strikes. Hesap zamanı! Alçaklardan hain saldırıların hesabı soruluyor! 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/pnEbFDkOF7 — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) November 19, 2022 × Terör yuvaları tam isabet vuruşlarla yerle bir ediliyor! 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/9jiFRn0hej — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) November 19, 2022 × British-based war monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that at least 31 people have been killed so far in the air raids. Notably, Türkiye has blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its affiliate Syria Kurdish groups for the blast that rocked central Istanbul last week, killing 13. WATCH | Istanbul street blast suspect arrested × According to reports, the target of Turkish attacks has been the northern Syrian border city of Kobane. Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) confirmed that the city had been targetted in the attacks. “Kobane, the city that defeated ISIS, is subjected to bombardment by the aircraft of the Turkish occupation,” tweeted SDF spokesperson Farhad Shami. updated#Kobane, the city that defeated ISIS, is subjected to bombardment by the aircraft of the Turkish occupation. — Farhad Shami (@farhad_shami) November 19, 2022 × “The Turkish occupation aircraft are shelling the al-Beilonya village which is heavily populated with Afrin IDPs who were forcibly displaced from Afrin in 2018,” he added. Notably, Turkish interior minister Suleyman Soylu in the aftermath of the blast said that the order for the attack was given in Kobane, where Turkish forces have carried out operations against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in recent years. Soylu added that the bomber had passed through Afrin, another region in northern Syria, which has been bombed by Turkish jets on Sunday. Read more: Forty-six, including Syrian woman accused of planting the bomb, detained for Istanbul blast The PKK and YPG have denied any involvement in the blast. Meanwhile, Turkish police has captured the chief suspect Alham Albashir -- a Syrian woman who is said to have been working for Kurdish militants, in an Istanbul suburb. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Türkiye launches air raids against Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq, 31 dead

<p>Bulgaria on Saturday (November 19) charged five people with helping one of the suspects in Istanbul blast. Last weekend's blast in central Istanbul killed six people. Turkiye, which has jailed 17 people over the blast has blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for the blast. Turkiye regards the PKK as a 'terror group'. Those who died in the blast included two girls aged nine and 15.</p>

<p>"Five people have been charged" over their "logistical" help to one of the suspects to flee, Siyka Mileva, a spokeswoman for the Sofia prosecutor's office told AFP. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Bulgaria's local media said that three or those charged were from Moldova and a fourth was from an unspecified Arab country. There were no immediate details about the fifth person.</p>

<p>The PKK and its Syrian offshoot the YPG have denied involvement in the blast, which also wounded 81 people. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack.</p>

<p>Turkish police captured the chief suspect Alham Albashir -- a Syrian woman who is said to have been working for Kurdish militants -- in an Istanbul suburb.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Albashir reportedly confessed to planting the bomb during her interrogation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Istanbul court remanded the 17 suspects in pre-trial detention on charges of "destroying national unity" and "deliberate killing".</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Bulgaria on Saturday (November 19) charged five people with helping one of the suspects in Istanbul blast. Last weekend's blast in central Istanbul killed six people.

Bulgaria on Saturday (November 19) charged five people with helping one of the suspects in Istanbul blast. Last weekend's blast in central Istanbul killed six people. Turkiye, which has jailed 17 people over the blast has blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) for the blast. Turkiye regards the PKK as a 'terror group'. Those who died in the blast included two girls aged nine and 15. "Five people have been charged" over their "logistical" help to one of the suspects to flee, Siyka Mileva, a spokeswoman for the Sofia prosecutor's office told AFP. Bulgaria's local media said that three or those charged were from Moldova and a fourth was from an unspecified Arab country. There were no immediate details about the fifth person. The PKK and its Syrian offshoot the YPG have denied involvement in the blast, which also wounded 81 people. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Turkish police captured the chief suspect Alham Albashir -- a Syrian woman who is said to have been working for Kurdish militants -- in an Istanbul suburb. Albashir reportedly confessed to planting the bomb during her interrogation. The Istanbul court remanded the 17 suspects in pre-trial detention on charges of "destroying national unity" and "deliberate killing". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Bulgaria: Five charged with helping Istanbul blast suspect

At least six people have died and 81 have been injured in a blast that rocked the Turkish capital over the weekend. One suspect has been arrested.

Istanbul street blast suspect arrested

In this news, we bring to you the latest updates from the blast that rocked the Turkish capital over the weekend. At least six people have died and 81 have been injured in a "heinous act."

Istanbul Explosion: 6 killed, at least 81 injured in suspected terror attack

<p>Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu accused the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Monday for a blast that killed six people in Istanbul's main shopping street on Sunday and&nbsp;injured 81. Meanwhile, the police said&nbsp;that they have detained 46 suspects,&nbsp;including Syrian woman Ahlam Albashir, who is suspected to have planted the bomb.</p>

<p>The woman has also reportedly said that she was trained by Kurdish militants in Syria and entered Turkey through northwest Syria's Afrin region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkiye-blast-at-busy-istiklal-street-in-istanbul-leaves-several-injured-533780">Istanbul blast kills 6, injures 81</a></p>

<p>"According to our findings, the PKK terrorist organisation is responsible," Suleyman Soylu said in a statement broadcast by the official Anadolu news agency in the early hours of Monday.&nbsp;The PKK has been blacklisted as a terrorist group by Ankara as well as its Western allies.</p>

<p>He further said that the order for the attack on Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping destination, was given in the northern Syrian city of &nbsp;Kobani, where Turkish forces have carried out operations against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in recent years. Soylu added that the bomber had passed through Afrin, another region in northern Syria.</p>

<p>Kobani was the site of a 2015 battle between Kurdish militants and Islamic State jihadists, who were driven out after more than four months of fighting.</p>

<p>Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who reached Indonesia for the G20 summit after the attack, called the bombing a "vile attack" before leaving for the summit and said it had a "smell of terror."</p>

<p>No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Images of a person, who appeared to be a woman, were aired on television, leaving a package below a raised flower bed in the street. People are worried that Istanbul might once again fall victims to a series of attacks, similar to what happened between mid-2015 and 2017.</p>

<p>"We believe that it is a terrorist act carried out by an attacker, whom we consider to be a woman, exploding the bomb," Turkey's vice president Fuat Oktay had earlier said.</p>

<p>Istanbul has been a target for Kurdish, Islamist and leftist militants in the past. An offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had claimed twin bombings outside an Istanbul soccer stadium in December 2016 that killed 38 people and wounded 155.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu accused the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Monday for a blast that killed six people in Istanbul's main shopping street on Sunday and injured 81.

Turkey's Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu accused the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on Monday for a blast that killed six people in Istanbul's main shopping street on Sunday and injured 81. Meanwhile, the police said that they have detained 46 suspects, including Syrian woman Ahlam Albashir, who is suspected to have planted the bomb. The woman has also reportedly said that she was trained by Kurdish militants in Syria and entered Turkey through northwest Syria's Afrin region. Also Read | Istanbul blast kills 6, injures 81 "According to our findings, the PKK terrorist organisation is responsible," Suleyman Soylu said in a statement broadcast by the official Anadolu news agency in the early hours of Monday. The PKK has been blacklisted as a terrorist group by Ankara as well as its Western allies. He further said that the order for the attack on Istiklal Avenue, a popular shopping destination, was given in the northern Syrian city of Kobani, where Turkish forces have carried out operations against the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in recent years. Soylu added that the bomber had passed through Afrin, another region in northern Syria. Kobani was the site of a 2015 battle between Kurdish militants and Islamic State jihadists, who were driven out after more than four months of fighting. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who reached Indonesia for the G20 summit after the attack, called the bombing a "vile attack" before leaving for the summit and said it had a "smell of terror." No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. × Images of a person, who appeared to be a woman, were aired on television, leaving a package below a raised flower bed in the street. People are worried that Istanbul might once again fall victims to a series of attacks, similar to what happened between mid-2015 and 2017. "We believe that it is a terrorist act carried out by an attacker, whom we consider to be a woman, exploding the bomb," Turkey's vice president Fuat Oktay had earlier said. Istanbul has been a target for Kurdish, Islamist and leftist militants in the past. An offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) had claimed twin bombings outside an Istanbul soccer stadium in December 2016 that killed 38 people and wounded 155. (With inputs from agencies)

Forty-six, including Syrian woman accused of planting the bomb, detained for Istanbul blast

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Türkiye launches air raids against Kurdish militants in Syria and Iraq, 31 dead

Bulgaria: Five charged with helping Istanbul blast suspect

Istanbul street blast suspect arrested

Istanbul Explosion: 6 killed, at least 81 injured in suspected terror attack

Forty-six, including Syrian woman accused of planting the bomb, detained for Istanbul blast