Two soldiers killed in PKK attack in Turkey’s southeast

ŞIRNAK

A sergeant and a specialized sergeant were killed while four others were wounded as militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) detonated a homemade bomb in the Bahçelievler neighborhood of the southeastern province of Şırnak on April 19.

Six soldiers were injured in the explosion and taken to Şırnak Military Hospital, where Sgt. Murat Erdi Eker and Specialized Sgt. Habib Gökçe succumbed to their wounds despite all efforts from the medical staff. 

The treatment of the other injured soldiers was ongoing. 

Security forces killed the PKK militants who killed Eker and Gökçe in Bahçelievler after clashes between the militants and security forces, which erupted early on April 20. 

The clashes that started at midnight were ongoing, Doğan News Agency reported. 

Security operations in Şırnak, which began on March 14 when a curfew was imposed, are continuing. 

Meanwhile, Turkish warplanes struck PKK targets in the Kandil Mountains in northern Iraq, where the PKK is headquartered. 

The Turkish General Staff said airstrikes were conducted in the area with two F-16 jets midday on April 20, in light of the intelligence received.