Bombings in Turkey

In southeastern Turkey in the town of Suruç, across the border from Kobane in northern Syria, a suicide bomber killed at least 32 people and injured nearly 100 others at a youth gathering on July 20.

The victims were part of a group heading to Kobane to assist in the rebuilding efforts. Kobane was held by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) from September 2014 until January 2015, when it was captured by Kurdish troops. IS is believed to be responsible for the attack in Suruç, now home to many refugees who fled from the fighting in Kobane.

In the southeastern city of S¸anlıurfa on July 23, members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, killed two Turkish police officers for their perceived role in the Suruç bombing. On the same day, IS forces killed a Turkish border guard near Syria. 

On July 26, a car bomb in the southern province of Diyarbakır killed two security officers and injured four other people. No group has taken responsibility for the bombing.

Turkey began carrying out air strikes against IS and Kurdish targets in Syria and Iraq on July 24 and 25.