One Turkish soldier killed in clashes with PKK in Turkey’s southeast

ŞIRNAK

One Turkish soldier was killed in a clash between Turkish forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern Turkish province of Şırnak on April 29. 

PKK militants reportedly attacked Turkish army forces with rockets and long-barreled weapons in the Bastler-Dereler mountainous region, state-run Anadolu Agency reported, citing a security source requesting anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

'41 PKK militants neutralized'

A total of 41 PKK militants were “neutralized” by the Turkish military in eastern and southeastern provinces of Tunceli, Siirt, Diyarbakır and Şırnak, and northern Iraq as part of counter-terror operations held on April 20-27.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralized” in their statements to imply that the militants in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.

In a statement issued on April 28, the Turkish Armed Forces said 28 targets, shelters, hideouts, and weapon pits belonging to terrorists were destroyed and arms and ammunition were seized during the operations.

Thirteen militants were “neutralized” in Turkey and 28 were neutralized across the border. One of them was a high-ranking PKK member.

So far, 4,305 militants have been “neutralized” since the start of “Operation Olive Branch” in Afrin, Syria, the statement added.

Turkey launched “Operation Olive Branch” on Jan. 20 this year to clear the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) from Afrin.