1 Turkish soldier killed, 23 wounded in clashes with PKK militants

PanARMENIAN.Net - One soldier was killed in clashes with Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the Hasanbeyli district of southeastern Gaziantep province, the Turkish General Staff said on Monday, October 5, according to Hurriyet Daily News.

Specialized sergeant Ufku Demirel was seriously wounded at around 6:15 a.m. during an operation targeting the PKK militants, who detonated four wind turbines in the Hasanbeyli district on October 4 with improvised explosives. Demirel was immediately hospitalized, but passed away soon.

Besides, 23 soldiers were injured after PKK militants detonated a roadside bomb in the Kocaköy district of Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakır province, Daily Sabah reports citing Dogan News Agency.

Military sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the roadside bomb controlled remotely was detonated while an army vehicle was passing.

At least 40,000 people have been killed since the PKK launched its insurgency for greater Kurdish autonomy in 1984.

Turkey has been bombarding PKK positions in the mountains of northern Iraq as well as the mainly Kurdish southeast following the collapse of a ceasefire in July in the most intense fighting between Kurdish militants and the state since the 1990s.

More than 120 security personnel and hundreds of militants have been killed since the ceasefire, initiated by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan more than two years ago, broke down.

According to Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok, Turkish security forces have killed more than 2,000 PKK militants in operations inside Turkey July 22.