Five soldiers killed in PKK attacks in Turkey’s east

HAKKARI

Five soldiers were killed in two separate attacks by outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the eastern province of Hakkari on Sept. 17 and 18.

According to a statement released by the Hakkari Governor’s Office, PKK militants opened fire on security forces at around 10 a.m. on Sept. 17 in the Ağaçdibi village, killing three soldiers and injuring another four. The wounded were taken to Hakkari State Hospital, but one of them succumbed to his wounds on Sept. 18, Anadolu Agency reported. 

An operation with aerial support was launched after the attack and a number of PKK militants were killed. 
Separately, a specialized sergeant was killed in an attack by the PKK in the Şemdinli district of the province. Gendarmerie Specialized Sgt. Mehmet İlker Şahin was heavily wounded in clashes between security forces and PKK militants and was taken to Yüksekova State Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds. 

Elsewhere, two village guards were wounded when PKK militants detonated a bomb in the eastern province of Bingöl on Sept. 18. 

They were taken to a hospital, where their condition was said to be non-life-threatening.