Turkish soldier killed in PKK attack

IĞDIR

A Turkish soldier was killed and another injured on May 10 in a PKK attack in eastern Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.      

The militants used improvised explosive to carry out the attack early morning in the eastern Iğdır province, said the agency.          

The attack in Dilucu area also wounded another soldier.         

A counter-terrorist operation is ongoing in the region.         

Meanwhile, Turkish security forces “neutralized” six PKK militants in the eastern Tunceli province, a statement from the provincial governor’s office said on May 9.

Authorities often use “neutralized” in statements to imply the militants in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The Interior Ministry announced on May 10 that the two PKK militants killed in the anti-terror operation on May 9 were among those named on “the wanted terrorist list.”

Celal Kaya and Haydar Gül were inscribed on the blue and orange category of “the wanted terrorists list” of the Interior Ministry, respectively.         

On the second-highest category, Kaya was wanted with a bounty of 1.5 million Turkish liras (roughly $250,000), while 600,000 Turkish liras (nearly $98,000) bounty was on the head of Gül.         

The list is divided into five color-coded categories, with red as the most wanted, followed by blue, green, orange and gray.   

Gendarmerie forces clashed with a group of PKK militants preparing for attack in rural areas, the Tunceli governor’s office said on May 9.

“In this operation, 2 heroic gendarmes were slightly injured and they were treated with outpatient treatment,” it said. 

Operations in the area continue, the governor’s office said.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU.