Soldier martyred, 2 injured in PKK attack in SE Turkey

By Sener Toktas

BITLIS, Turkey (AA) - One Turkish soldier was martyred and two others were injured in a PKK terrorist attack in southeastern Bitlis province earlier on Monday, security sources said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the security sources said PKK terrorists detonated a bomb when a security force vehicle was passing by on the countryside of the province during an anti-PKK terror operation.

The two injured soldiers - one in critical condition - were taken to hospitals in the province.

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, 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 Tutku Senen contributed to this report from Ankara.