Turkey Airstrikes on PKK, North Korean Troops in Russia

THE WAR NEWSLETTER — OCT 24 2024

Good morning. Today’s update covers updates on Turkey’s strikes and the war in Ukraine.

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Map of today’s newsletter:

• 🇹🇷 Turkey strikes Kurdish targets

• ⚔️ The Russian Iskander missile

• 🇺🇦 North Korean forces confirmed in Russia

1 - TURKEY

1 thing to know

Turkey launched airstrikes on Kurdish targets in northern Iraq and Syria.

The context 

Yesterday (October 23) there was an assault on a factory in Ankara, Turkey. The attack resulted in the deaths of five people and left 22 injured. The attack was believed to be carried out by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant group designated a terror group by both Turkey and the US. The PKK was formed after the Turkish military coup in 1971 and was initially made up of people from the Turkish left, with Marxist and socialist leanings.

The attack occurred when two attackers, armed with rifles and explosives, stormed the premises of TUSAS, a Turkish defense manufacturer. Turkish authorities quickly blamed the PKK.

In response, Turkey’s military launched strikes, destroying over 47 PKK-related targets in both Iraq and Syria.

More from the region

Turkey has long conducted operations against the PKK, which seeks greater autonomy for Kurds in southeastern Turkey.

Despite efforts to reduce conflict, Turkish forces continue their offensive against Kurdish factions in Syria, with reports claiming 12 civilians were killed in the strikes.

Turkey’s Defense Minister Yasar Guler affirmed the country’s commitment to continuing military action against the PKK until all threats are eliminated.

Kurdish forces, particularly in Syria, accuse Turkey of indiscriminately targeting civilian infrastructure in its campaigns.

In the news

• Turkish strikes against PKK

• The initial attack on the factory

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TECH SPOTLIGHT: ISKANDER MISSILE

The 9K720 Iskander is a short range ballistic missile built by the Russian military, first adopted in 2006, with the latest variant being put into use in 2020. The missile supports a variety of different warheads, including cluster-munitions, fuel-air explosive, fragmentation, bunker-busting, and an electromagnetic pulse device. It is also capable of supporting nuclear warheads.

The missile travels at a speed of Mach 6 at an altitude of 31 miles, carrying a warhead that weighs around 1500 pounds, and has a range of 310 miles. According to claims by the Russian military, a single warhead has the ability to destroy an area of about two football fields.

What it’s used for

The first use of the Iskander was in 2008 during the Russo-Georgian War, with several subsequent deployments to Armenia, Syria, and Crimea. 

Most recently, the missile was used during the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, where Russia them across the border as part of the assault, then later stationing more near the border. In 2024, reports confirmed that the missiles were launched at Ukrainian airbases, resulting in damages to various aircraft.

2 - UKRAINE

1 thing to know

The Pentagon has confirmed reports of the deployment of North Korean troops in Russia.

The context 

Although it is yet unclear what they are doing, there are at least 3,000 North Korean personnel deployed to Vladivostok as of October 23, with a reported 6,000 more being trained inside Russia. 

South Korean intelligence also stated that North Korea is planning on sending 10,000 troops to Russia by the end of 2024. Amid these reports, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated the position of People's Republic of China, calling for "de-escalation".

More from the region

Russian forces have made territorial gains both into the Ukrainian town of Selydove and in the regions to the north and south of it, which may soon force Ukrainian forces to withdraw. 

Despite this, Ukrainian forces have put up a strong defense, slowing the Russian progress since the attacks began in 2024. While Selydove is not the main Russian objective, it has drawn resources away from the strategically important city of Pokrovsk, which has slowed progress toward the town.

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