Two soldiers killed in operation against PKK in Turkey’s Bitlis

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Two soldiers were killed in an anti-terror operation against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Bitlis on June 22, the Turkish General Staff has said.      

The soldiers were initially hospitalized after the attack in Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van but later succumbed to their injuries, according to a statement. A third soldier is still being treated in Tatvan State Hospital.    

Meanwhile, a village guard was killed by the PKK in the southeastern province of Siirt on June 21, Doğan News Agency has reported.

PKK militants opened fire on security forces at 10:00 p.m. on June 21 in Siirt’s Eruh district. Village guard Abdurrahman Dündar was killed at the scene.     
   
Meanwhile, the Diyarbakir Governor’s Office said an operation targeting PKK financing in 104 villages of the southeastern province ended on June 21.      

The operation, supported by around 8,000 members of the security forces, led to the deaths of three PKK militants and the capture of five others, the governor’s office said in a statement.    
    
Nineteen “long-barreled weapons,” 13 other firearms, 22 hand grenades and ammunition were seized during the operation and 83 shelters and 19 improvised explosive devices were destroyed.   
     
The statement added that more than 17 tons of cannabis and up to 4 million cannabis plants were also confiscated during the 25-day operation.