Soldier succumbs to wounds in southeast Turkey

MARDIN, Turkey (AA) – A Turkish soldier succumbed to his wounds Monday after he was shot during an anti-terrorist operation against the PKK group in southeastern Turkey, the Turkish military said.

The Turkish General Staff said in a statement that the soldier was severely wounded during clashes between the PKK terrorist organization and security forces in Nusaybin in southeastern Mardin province; he later died in a hospital at 17:30 local time, (1430GMT).

Another Turkish soldier was martyred earlier Monday, the military added.

The anti-terrorist operation titled “Atmaca-7” also aims to destroy improvised explosive devices and fill in trenches dug up by terrorists; it remains ongoing in Nusaybin.

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

Since then, more than 450 security personnel, including troops, police officers and village guards, have been martyred and over 4,500 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.