PKK loses five militants in night-time attack on eastern town

HAKKARİ - Doğan News Agency (DHA)

Parts of an RPG round rests on the ground in Şemdinli. DHA photo

Five militants were killed in intense clashes that lasted for two hours in the Şemdinli district of the eastern province of Hakkari yesterday. 
 
Around 30 suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) mounted simultaneous attacks on the district governor’s office and the central police station of Şemdinli, a gendarmerie headquarters located 100 meters from the police station, as well as an army brigade headquarters outside of the town center at around 8:30 p.m.
 
Security forces were reportedly informed of the attack as they had previously received intelligence and were prepared when PKK militants launched rockets and opened fire with assault rifles. Intense clashes erupted in Şemdinli town center, which lasted for about two hours, damaging several civilian and official buildings. Security forces conducted a night-long operation through Şemdinli's neighborhoods once the clashes died down. 
 
Bomb squads were deployed on streets of Şemdinli in the morning to look for unexploded munitions. Police found several unexploded hand grenades and an unexploded rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), which had pierced through the wall of a local bakery. The explosives were defused by bomb specialists. 
 
Operations were continuing in the district to apprehend the militants who fled to mountainous areas. 

Shops and stores remained closed in Şemdinli today, with only one bakery and one pharmacist remaining open. 
 
PKK attacks same headquarters for second time
 
PKK militants attacked the Omurlu second border battalion in the eastern province of Hakkari again today after targeting the headquarters and killing one soldier yesterday. 
 
The attack came at around 11:30 a.m., with militants targeting the battalion with RPGs, mortars and assault rifles. A clash erupted after soldiers returned fire. An air-backed operation was launched to apprehend the militants who fled the scene.
 
The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.