Major killed in PKK attack laid to rest in Ankara

TUNCELİ / GİRESUN

DHA photo

A Turkish major, who was killed Sept. 26 in an attack by suspected members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the eastern province of Tunceli, was laid to rest in Ankara on Sept. 27.

Gendarmerie Maj. Yavuz Sonat Güzel’s body was brought to Ankara after an official ceremony held in the eastern province of Elazığ. Güzel’s family had difficulty standing calm during the funeral prayer held at Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara on Sept. 27. 

The fallen soldier’s wife, Burcu; 12-year-old daughter Sude; mother Emine; father Yılmaz; as well as his sisters Zişan and Fatma were present during the funeral. 

Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, Science and Technology Minister Fikri Işık, Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli, Chief of Staff Gen. Hulusi Akar and force commanders, Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy leader Bülent Tezcan and Ankara Gov. Mehmet Kılıçlar were also present during the funeral.

Güzel was badly wounded during clashes between PKK militants and security forces in the Yapraklı hamlet, the Turkish General Staff stated. Güzel was taken to Elazığ military hospital by helicopter before being transferred to Fırat University hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries despite all medical efforts. 

An air operation with the support of Cobra and Sikorsky helicopters was launched to apprehend the militants.
Güzel’s death came after two soldiers and four civilians were killed during clashes in southeastern Şırnak province. 

Two soldiers were killed during a PKK attack on gendarmerie building and security directorate building in Beytüşşebap district of Şırnak on Sept. 26, Şırnak Governor’s Office said in a statement. Four civilians, including an ambulance driver, were also killed during the clashes. Also, eight soldiers, 11 police officers and one village guard were wounded, said the statement. 

Meanwhile, four civilians were wounded in a separate PKK attack in the northern province of Giresun.

Three women and another civilian who were attending a wedding in the garden of a school in the Güce district were slightly injured when militants opened fire on a nearby gendarmerie station with rockets and long-barreled rifles. The wounded civilians were reported to be in good condition.