The People’s Defence Centre (HSM), the military command of the People’s Defence Forces (HPG), has claimed responsibility for the recent attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) complex in Ankara, stating that an autonomous unit within their “Immortals Battalion” conducted the operation. In a statement reported by ANF on Friday, the HSM emphasised that the action was planned well in advance of recent political developments and was not intended to interfere with any potential peace process between Kurdish forces and the Turkish state.
The HPG revealed that the 23 October attack, which led to several casualties, was conducted by two members of the Immortals Battalion, named Mine Sevjin Alçiçek (Asya Ali) and Ali Örek (Rojger Hêlîn). The HSM described their actions as “heroic” and cited their motivation as a response to the ongoing violence and policies targeting Kurdish civilians. “This action was undertaken autonomously, outside any recent political developments,” the statement clarified, asserting that the unit’s mission was to target strategic sites responsible for the production of weaponry used against Kurdish communities.
HSM condemned Turkey’s retaliatory airstrikes following the Ankara attack, which struck civilian targets in Kurdish regions, including Rojava and Sinjar (Şengal). They noted that these areas, home to vital infrastructure and civilians, were unjustly targeted despite having no connection to the HPG’s operations. “This indiscriminate assault on civilian areas is a war crime, pure and simple,” the HSM said, citing reports of civilian casualties, including children, in what they called “a massacre and genocide” against Kurdish people.
The HPG acknowledged past incidents where civilian harm had occurred inadvertently but emphasised that their movement aims to avoid civilian casualties and focus on strategic military targets. They further appealed for understanding from democratic and leftist circles in Turkey, asserting that TUSAŞ, as a defence contractor, is involved in producing weaponry directly impacting Kurdish regions and civilians.
