Six soldiers, two village guards killed in Turkey’s southeast

HAKKARİ

The outpost that came under attack in Hakkari's Geçimli village. DHA photo

Six soldiers and two village guards were killed while 15 troops were injured in an attack by suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Hakkari late last night.
 
PKK militants mounted simultaneous attacks on three military outposts in Hakkari's Geçimli and Karataş villages, as well as Darsinki hill. 
 
The gendarmerie outpost in Geçimli was apparently the main target, with a high number of militants attacking the outpost from three separate locations with rocket launchers and assault rifles at around 11 p.m. A group of militants trying to approach the same outpost in a civilian truck were detected by soldiers and village guards, resulting in a firefight. Two village guards were killed in the clash while one soldier and six villagers who were living in homes close to the outpost were injured. 
 
One female suicide bomber detonated the explosives strapped to her body in front of the Geçimli outpost gate as the clashes ensued, killing herself and injuring the soldiers at the gate. 
 
The clashes continued for some time around the outpost. Hakkari Gov. Orhan Alimoğlu said 11 PKK militants were killed in the clash in Geçimli. 
 
No injuries were reported in the attacks on the outposts in Karataş and Darsinki. 
 
The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.