A bomb on İstiklal Avenue killed 6 and injured 81, prompting Turkey to launch cross-border strikes on Kurdish targets in Syria and Iraq.
Key Facts
- Date
- 13 November 2022
- Deaths
- 6 people
- Injured
- 81 people
- Arrests made
- 47 (bomber + 46 others)
- Targets struck in response
- Nearly 500 in Syria and Iraq
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Istanbul has faced recurring terrorist attacks from Kurdish separatist groups and Islamist insurgents since the late 20th century. Turkish authorities attributed the bombing to Kurdish separatists, specifically implicating the PKK and the SDF, though both organizations denied any involvement in the attack.
On 13 November 2022, a bomb exploded on İstiklal Avenue in the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, killing 6 people and injuring 81 others. Turkish interior minister Süleyman Soylu announced the arrest of the bomber and 46 additional suspects. No group officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
On 20 November 2022, one week after the bombing, Turkey launched Operation Claw-Sword, conducting airstrikes against nearly 500 targets in Syria and Iraq. The operation was framed as a retaliatory response to the attack and targeted positions associated with Kurdish militant groups.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Süleyman Soylu.
Side B
1 belligerent