Soldier wounded in clashes with PKK in Mount Ararat

A group of PKK militants opened fire on gendarmerie teams conducting searches on the foothills of Mount Ararat. One specialized sergeant was wounded in the shoulder and transferred to a military hospital in Erzurum by helicopter.

Reinforcements were also deployed to the scene following the attack as the operations continued.

Meanwhile, one PKK militant was detained on July 4 in the Patnos district.

In addition, PKK militants staged a bomb attack on the Tunceli-Elazığ motorway on July 4, but no casualties were reported.

The militants detonated a hand-made explosive while security forces were conducting searches for explosives in the motorway. No casualties were reported in the explosion as an operation was conducted to apprehend the militants. The road was also briefly closed to traffic after the attack.

Meanwhile, three civilians were wounded late on July 3 in a separate attack by PKK militants in the Kızıltepe district of the southeastern province of Mardin.

PKK militants detonated a hand-made explosive placed on a bridge in the Koçhisar neighborhood during the passing of an armored police vehicle.

Three civilians who were passing at the time of the attack were wounded.

A wide-scale operation was conducted to apprehend the militants.

In addition, the Mardin Governor’s Office announced on that it banned meetings, demonstrations, press statements and organizations such as opening up stands and tents in the districts and city center for 30 days starting from July 3.

The governor’s office said in a written statement that the ban was due to recent terror incidents in the country to prevent potential provocative actions by the PKK in the province.