Turkey lashed out today at Kurdish targets, bombing military positions in northern Iraq and rounding up dozens of militants at home after a suicide car bombing in the heart of the capital drew the country even deeper into the complex Syrian conflict.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said there were "strong indications" that yesterday's attack was carried out by the rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
Davutoglu added that authorities had detained 11 people directly connected to the suicide bombing near a line of bus stops that killed 37 people.
DNA tests were underway to identify the bomber and another body believed to be that of a person who assisted, he said, while a senior government official has said the bomber was a woman.
"There are very serious, almost-certain indications that point to the separatist terror organization," Davutoglu said, referring to the PKK.
The attack further complicated Turkey's place in the region as it battles a host of enemies across its borders including the Syrian government, Kurdish rebels in both Iraq and Syria, and the Islamic State group, even after being forced to absorb 2.7 million refugees from the conflict.
Turkey is also battling the PKK, a Kurdish group fighting for autonomy in southeastern Turkey for three decades.
A fragile, 2 and 1/2-year peace process broke down in July.
Turkey blames the PKK, saying it was inspired by the success of the Kurdish militia forces in Syria against IS in the city of Kobani and elsewhere.
The PKK blames Turkey for failing to deliver on promises.
More than 200 people have died in five suicide bombings in Turkey since July that were blamed either on the Kurdish rebels or IS.
Yesterday's attack was the second suicide bombing in the capital: a February 17 attack for which a PKK offshoot claimed responsibility killed 29 people.
"All five attacks are linked to the fallout of the Syrian civil war," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey expert at the Washington Institute.
"Ankara's ill-executed Syria policy ... Has exposed Turkey to great risks."
Bill Park, a lecturer on Turkish foreign policy and security at King's College London, said Ankara's aggression toward the Kurds in Syria has angered Kurds inside Turkey and inspired attacks.
