Turkish soldier succumbs to wounds in hospital

By Adsiz Gunebakan

GAZIANTEP, Turkey (AA) – A Turkish soldier being treated for injuries sustained during the ongoing Operation Euphrates Shield succumbed to his wounds Monday, making him a martyr to the Turkish state.

Private Mehmet Unal had been undergoing treatment at Gaziantep University’s Sahinbey Training and Research Hospital after being wounded in Syria on Dec. 19, security sources said.

After forensic procedures Unal was taken to Asri Cemetery, said the security sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Following a ceremony at Gaziantep Airport, Unal will be taken to his hometown Yozgat in Turkey’s central Anatolia region.

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

Since the launch of Operation Euphrates Shield, Turkish explosive ordnance disposal teams have neutralized 2,261 handmade explosives and 42 mines in areas cleared of Daesh.