3 Turkish soldiers martyred, 1 hurt in eastern Turkey

ANKARA

Three Turkish soldiers were martyred and another was wounded during an operation in eastern Turkey, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.

A gendarmerie captain and two gendarmerie specialist sergeants were martyred, while a gendarmerie lieutenant colonel was injured in the operation carried out in Catak district of Van province, the ministry said in a statement.

At least three terrorists were neutralized in the same operation, which was part of the ongoing Operation Yildirim-10, the ministry added.

The National Defense Ministry on Twitter offered condolences to the families and relatives of the fallen soldiers and the Turkish nation.

Turkish authorities often use the word “neutralize” to imply the terrorists in question surrendered or were killed or captured.

The terrorists’ affiliation was not mentioned, but the terror group PKK has been active in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US, and the EU – has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children, and infants.