Three soldiers killed in PKK attack in eastern Turkey

HAKKARİ – Anadolu Agency

Security forces hold an anti-PKK operation in the southern province of Adana. AA photo

At least three soldiers were killed and five others injured in an outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) attack in eastern Turkey, said a military source on Oct. 29.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said the PKK militants attacked security forces with mortar shells in the Çukurca district in the Hakkari province.      

One soldier is in critical condition, said the source.

An operation was launched in the region to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.

Separately, twelve suspected members of the youth wing of the PKK were arrested on Oct. 29 in the western province of İzmir, security forces said.
Police received information that the suspected terrorists were preparing to target security forces with improvised explosive devices on Oct. 29, during celebrations for Turkey's Republic Day, security sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

Materials used for making bombs were also found during the operation in İzmir, the security sources added.

In a separate operation, six PKK and six Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) members were arrested in the capital Ankara according to the Ankara Police Department.