Two soldiers killed in counter-terrorism operations in Turkey

ANKARA

Two Turkish soldiers have been killed during counter-terrorism operations in eastern and southeastern Turkey, officials said on April 10.

In a statement, the Turkish General Staff said one soldier was killed in the Çukurca district of the southeastern Hakkari province when he fell from a cliff in the midst of counter-terrorism operations.

“We wish mercy from God to the martyr and condolences to his family, the nation, and the Turkish Armed Forces,” the statement said.

The other soldier was killed when an improvised explosive device planted by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) went off in Zihnitepe in the eastern province of Bitlis, the governor’s office said in a statement late on April 10.

Also, two PKK militants were “neutralized” in the operations on April 10, the military announced.

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

In another statement, the general staff said that in addition to “neutralizing” two PKK militants, four Kalashnikovs, an M-16, two bombs, 120 weapons cartridges, and a radio were also seized.

The statement also said eight explosive devices were also destroyed.