Fire opened on soldiers patrolling Syrian border, three injured

HATAY - Hürriyet

Three soldiers patrolling the porous Syrian border in the southern Hatay province as part of the measures against smuggling were wounded when fire was opened from the Syrian territory, daily Hürriyet reported. 

The incident occurred near the border post close to the Kıyıgözü village in the Altınözü district which borders on the İdlib province of Syria.   

Soldiers stationed at the post returned fired after the attack, which was likely have been carried out by smugglers, according to Hürriyet.

All three soldiers were transported to Antakya and their injuries are not serious. 

The attack came after the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) announced July 14 that they had intercepted almost 11,644 illegal entrants in June as they were attempting to cross into Turkey from Syria.

The army secures the Syrian border with up to 200 border posts where soldiers keep watch with thermal cameras, night-vision glasses and armored vehicles called “Kobras.”