Soldier martyred, 1 injured in SE Turkey PKK attack

ANKARA

Three PKK terrorists have been killed and a Turkish soldier has been martyred in two separate incidents in two southeastern provinces since Monday, according to the military.

In a statement released on its official website, Turkish General Staff said a Turkish soldier was martyred after sustaining injuries in a clash with PKK terrorists in southeastern Hakkari province’s Semdinli district Tuesday.

Two soldiers were wounded in the clash, the statement said.

"The injured were immediately taken to hospital, but our fellow who was critically wounded fell martyr at 5.40 a.m. [0240GMT] despite all efforts to save his life," the statement said.

Turkish General Staff also said in a separate statement Tuesday that three terrorists were killed and two others surrendered in southeastern Sirnak province Monday.

In Sirnak, the total number of terrorists “neutralized” was now at 479, according to the statement.

The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, more than 500 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred and over 4,900 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.