One soldier killed during clashes with PKK in Turkey’s southeast

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

DHA photo

One soldier was killed in during clashes with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the Hasanbeyli district of southeastern Gaziantep province, the Turkish General Staff said Oct. 5.

Specialized sergeant Ufku Demirel was gravely wounded on Oct. 5 at around 6:15 a.m. during an operation targeting the PKK militants, who detonated four wind tribunes in the Hasanbeyli district on Oct. 4 with improvised explosives. Demirel was immediately transferred to Balcalı Hospital at Adana’s Çukurova University with a military helicopter where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries despite all medical efforts, the statement added.

It has been revealed that Demirel began his military duty one year ago.

9 wounded in Ağrı crash

Meanwhile, nine Turkish soldiers and a civilian have been injured after a bus carrying military personnel crashed into a pick-up truck in the eastern province of Ağrı, Doğan news agenct reported.

The crash came as a military shuttle bus carrying 30 military personnel from the Ağrı Gendarmerie Command and the pickup truck belonging to the Ağrı Municipality crashed on a road connecting Ağrı to the eastern province of Van around 11 a.m. on Oct. 5.

All the injured soldiers and the driver of the pickup truck were taken to the Ağrı Public Hospital and reported to be in good condition and were provided outpatient treatment.

The road was closed off for a short time following the crash and then opened to vehicular traffic.