Two soldiers killed as explosive hits Turkish military vehicleAugust 23, 2016 - 17:37 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Turkish military vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in southeast Sirnak province, killing two soldiers, security sources and private Dogan news agency said on Tuesday, August 23, according to Reuters. No one claimed responsibility for the blast in Uludere town near the Iraqi border. Turkey's southeast has been hit by a surge in violence since a ceasefire with militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) ended last year. The PKK claimed responsibility for a suicide car bomb attack targeting a police station in the eastern Turkish city of Elazig last Thursday that killed three officers. The attack was the largest in a series of bombings which killed a total of 10 people, mostly police and soldiers, and wounded 300 more within less than 24 hours. It was an escalation of violence in southeastern Turkey that officials blamed on PKK militants, who Turkey, the United States and European Union label as a terrorist organization. Since the collapse of the ceasefire, the PKK has carried out dozens of attacks on police and military posts in the largely Kurdish region in its fight for greater autonomy for Turkey's 15 million Kurds. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |