One soldier killed, 7 others injured in PKK attack in southeastern Turkey

ŞIRNAK - Doğan News Agency

DHA photo

A soldier has been killed and seven others have been injured after militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) opened fire on a military helicopter in the eastern province of Şırnak.

Doğan Acar was killed and seven other soldiers were injured after PKK militants fired shots with Dushka anti-aircraft weapons and rockets at a Skorsky military helicopter at around 7 a.m. on Aug. 10 in Şırnak’s Beytüşşebap district, the Turkish General Staff said in a written statement.

Acar was severely injured when PKK militants opened fire on the helicopter carrying military personnel who had completed their service along with others on annual leave in central Şırnak, it said.

“Following the incident, Acar was taken to the Şırnak military hospital, but his life could not be saved,” it said, adding the Turkish General Staff had sent condolences to the family and relatives of the fallen soldier.

Turkish security forces bombed terrorist footholds with helicopters following the PKK offensive, as part of a military campaign against PKK bases.

Yet unconfirmed, the seven soldiers injured were taken to the Şırnak public hospital for treatment.