Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

NATO stands ready to defend all Allies, a NATO official told Azernews.

He was commenting on the Alliance's decision on joint action in the possibility of Turkey's appeal to NATO for fight against terrorism within the country.

“We will not speculate on a hypothetical situation. As a matter of principle, NATO stands ready to defend all Allies," the source said.

A car bomb that exploded in Ankara on March 13, near a crowded bus stop killed as many as 37 people, 125 more got injured.

Turkey's Premier Bekir Bozdag called the incident an "act of terrorism" immediately after the attack.

Preliminary reports said the two suicide bombers, one male and one female triggered the explosive device, while in the car. According to reports, the mentioned car was hijacked Feb. 10 in the Turkish southeastern province of Sanliurfa.

NATO immediately condemned the terrorist attack on Ankara on March 13.

Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, said "There can be no justification for such heinous acts of violence."

"All NATO Allies stand in solidarity with Turkey, resolute in our determination to fight terrorism in all its forms," he noted. "I extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, and to the people of Turkey. I wish the wounded a full and rapid recovery."

Turkey is part of the US-led coalition against IS and allows coalition planes to use its air base at Incirlik for raids on Iraq and Syria.

It has also been carrying out a campaign of bombardment against Syrian Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which it regards as an extension of the PKK.

Kurdish rebels have carried out a series of attacks in the territory of Turkey in recent months, and security forces have raided Kurdish areas, after a ceasefire ended last year.

Last month, a bomb attack on a military convoy in Ankara killed 28 people and wounded dozens more.

That bombing was claimed by a Kurdish militant group, the Kurdistan Freedom Hawks (TAK). It said on its website that the attack was in retaliation for the policies of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkey, however, blamed a Syrian national who was a member of the YPG.

Last October, more than 100 people were killed in a double-suicide bombing at a Kurdish peace rally in Ankara.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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