Explosions in Turkey and Syria Target Kurds

On July 20, a bombing in Suruc, Turkey killed dozens of people and wounded 100. Turkish officials believe that a suicide bomber carried out the attack. Turkish media reported that the attacker was an 18-year-old woman affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), though this has not been verified.

The blast targeted approximately 300 people from the Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) who had gathered at the Amara Culture Center. The group was planning to volunteer in Kobane, Syria to help rebuild the city after a series of IS attacks caused severe damage. Suruc, near the border between Turkey and Syria, houses many refugees who have fled Kobane after heavy fighting between IS and Kurdish militias.

In January, IS was driven out of Kobane by Kurdish forces. Late last month, its fighters, disguised as members of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG), entered the city and began killing Kurdish civilians before they themselves were captured or killed. In recent weeks, IS has reportedly begun firing chemical mortar shells at the Kurds. Though it has experimented with chlorine-based chemicals in past attacks, its ability to fire chemical weapons from a distance shows a marked increase in capability.

Also on July 20, a suicide bomber detonated a car bomb near a YPG checkpoint near Kobane. Though links between the two bombings have not been officially established, the explosion in Kobane is also believed to be an IS attack.

Neither attack has been officially linked to IS. However, they come 10 days after Turkey arrested 21 members of the group following a promise to NATO to crack down on militant activity. Turkey has faced criticism in the past for its ambivalent treatment of IS and for its rocky relations with the Kurds, with whom it has fought for decades. Kurdish officials regularly say that Turkey allows IS to operate unimpeded, and a former member of IS accused Turkish border guards of turning a blind eye to its operations while giving it weapons. Despite its proximity to IS activity in Syria, Turkey has largely avoided being targeted, so the July 20 attack in Suruc could indicate that the country’s hardening stance has caused IS to lash back.

Though Turkey may see a rise in militant violence, the July 20 attacks likely had very little to do with Turkey. The targets of both bombings were linked to the Kurds and Kobane, and IS has started using chemical weapons against them as well. Turkey actually has a history of acceptance of IS violence against the Kurds, raising the possibilities that Turkey may have facilitated the Suruc bombing by allowing IS militants inside its borders and that Turkish-Kurdish violence may erupt. The Kurds have generally been one of the most effective forces against IS, but the US is doing nothing to provide them assistance. In light of the new attacks, the US must start aiding the Kurds while monitoring Turkey’s actions, because the Kurds might not remain effective forever without the proper support.