6 Turkish soldiers martyred in PKK attacks

By Necmi Ertus & Halil Ibrahim Sincar

HAKKARI, Turkey (AA) – Six Turkish soldiers have been martyred in separate PKK terrorist attacks in two southeastern provinces, security sources said Friday.

The sources, speaking to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said four soldiers were martyred when PKK terrorists detonated explosives near Cimenli village in Hakkari province.

An operation to find the terrorists is underway.

Two other soldiers were martyred in a clash with PKK terrorists during an operation in Mardin province's Derik district, the regional governor’s office announced Friday.

The governor’s office said counter-terrorism operations would continue "resolutely" to ensure the safety of citizens.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, nearly 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred, and more than 5,000 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.

*Anadolu Agency Correspondent Diyar Guldogan contributed to this story from Ankara.