Turkish soldier succumbs to wounds in Ankara hospital

By Harun Nacar

BITLIS, Turkey (AA) - A Turkish soldier succumbed to his wounds at a military hospital in Ankara on Tuesday, a military source told Anadolu Agency.

Infantry Commando Muhammed Bozarslan had been wounded during the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria on Dec. 21, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Bozarslan was the second martyr in the family, according to his uncle. His cousin Alaattin Bozarslan was martyred in 1998 while fighting against the PKK terrorists.

The Turkish-led Operation Euphrates Shield began in late August to improve security, support coalition forces, and to eliminate the terror threat along Turkey’s southern border using Free Syrian Army fighters backed by Turkish artillery and jets.

Since the launch of Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkish explosive ordnance disposal teams have neutralized 2,387 handmade explosives and 42 mines in areas cleared of Daesh.