HDP: Taksim bombing a "scheme" for endorsing government's "new offensive concept"

In a media communication, the pro-Kurdish opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said on Monday that recent developments concerning the government's plan to implement a new offensive concept, and in particular schemes including the recent incident in Taksim, have been discussed in a meeting.

Expressing condolences to the families of the people who were killed by a rocket attack in Turkey's southern border district of Karkamis, HDP officials said:

"The suspicious circumstances in which the massacre in Taksim took place have not been disclosed yet. Dozens of unanswered questions and inconsistencies still remain in place. But the government, by accusing the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and pointing its finger directly at Kobani, tried to legitimize its recent attacks and its war policy, which were apparently planned beforehand."

They continued:

"The ruling AKP-MHP bloc, who has been trying to stay in power by targeting Kurds and through policies of polarization and war policies, believes, before the coming elections, that it can continue to rule solely by policies of war. The airstrikes in North and East Syria and the threats of invasion are the election campaign of the AKP-MHP administration. Their objective is to reshape politics through war policies.

They added:

"The political system established by the Kurdish people and other peoples of Rojava, based on democracy and women's liberty, is an assurance for a democratic future of the Middle East, and it is a symbol of freedom. Defending Rojava and Kobani, a city symbolizing the resistance of humanity against the barbarism of the Islamic State, signifies defending universal human values. We will never cease to defend Kobani and Rojava."

Recent attacks in Northern Syria

The Turkish military carried out waves of airstrikes on late Saturday in Northern Syria, killing and injuring dozens of people. The attack, dubbed "Operation Claw and Sword" by Turkish officials, was presented by the government as a response to a deadly bomb attack in Istiklal street, near Istanbul's Taksim square. The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) was held responsible, although it denied any involvement. The Turkish authorities claim that the leadership of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) is affiliated with the PKK: