Bomb blast martyrs 2 soldiers in SE Turkey

By Adsiz Gunebakan

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) - Two Turkish soldiers were martyred Tuesday when an improvised explosive device went off near the Syrian border in the country's southeastern Gaziantep province, a security source said.

The incident happened during a demining operation south of Akcakoyunlu area in Oguzeli district, the source said, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on speaking to media.

The soldiers, who were heavily injured in the incident, succumbed to their wounds at Gaziantep University Hospital, the source added.

The Turkish military announced last Thursday that 26 mines and 671 IEDs planted by Daesh terrorists had been defused since the onset of Operation Euphrates Shield on Aug. 24.

The operation in northern Syria aims to improve security, support coalition forces, and eliminate the terror threat along Turkey's border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish armor, artillery, and jets.