Soldier killed, 13 wounded in PKK attack in Turkey's southeast
ISTANBUL
A gendarmerie outpost in Siirt. Hürriyet Photo
One soldier was killed and 13 were wounded after suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attacked a gendarmerie outpost in the southeastern province of Siirt yesterday, daily Hürriyet reported today.
Turkish soldiers returned fire when militants opened fire on the outpost, which is located in a rural area in the province's Eruh district, while the soldiers were having a fast-breaking dinner at around 7:30 p.m., according to reports.
The wounded soldiers were subsequently taken to hospitals in Siirt.
Additional military teams were sent to the area where clashes are continuing. Military helicopters fired on militants' possible locations.
Meanwhile, PKK militants also attacked another military point in Siirt's Pervari district at the same time yesterday. The militants fled the scene after soldiers returned fire.
Operations were launched to apprehend the assailants.
A funeral was held at Ankara's Kocatepe mosque today for Pvt. Enes Çakırdoğan, who was killed in the attack.
Turkish President Abdullah Gül, Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Çiçek, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel and leader of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu were present at the funeral.
Human shield claims
Doğan News Agency, meanwhile, reported that the PKK militants who attacked the station in Eruh first infiltrated Bilgili village 300 meters away from the station and opened fire on the soldiers from villagers' homes.
The report said soldiers in the station were unable to return fire in force in order not to harm the civilians as the militants attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and assault rifles.
Blast hits military vehicles
Two military vehicles traveling on a road near Bağlar village of the southeastern Hakkari province were also hit by an explosion today.
An explosive device was detonated by suspected members of the PKK as the vehicles were traveling to take part in a military operation at around noon. Initial reports did not mention if there were any casualties in the attack.
The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.
