Southeast Turkey Clashes Kill 6 Pkk, 1 Soldier Martyred

Six PKK terrorists were killed and a Turkish solider was martyred in southeastern Turkey in separate incidents Monday, the Turkish military said.



Three PKK terrorists were killed and a Turkish soldier was martyred following an armed PKK terrorist attack in southeastern Mardin province in Derik district. According to the Turkish General Staff, the incident took place when gendarmerie's special forces were carrying out an operation against the terrorist PKK group in the area.



Earlier on Thursday, Mardin Governor's office imposed a curfew in several streets in the province to "remove barricades and maintain the security of its citizens."



"As a result of fire opened by terrorists, two soldiers were critically wounded," Turkish General Staff said, adding: "One injured comrade was immediately sent to hospital, but fell martyr despite all interventions at the hospital".  The other critically-injured soldier continues to receive treatment for his wounds.



Turkish military added that three PKK terrorists were also killed in a gunbattle after the attack in Mardin.  



Separately, police killed three PKK members in southeastern Sirnak province in two clashes after a patrolling police team and Cizre police department's annex came under attack.



Rocket-propelled grenades and other heavy weapons were said to be used in the strike.   



The PKK - considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU - resumed its armed campaign in late July.



Since July, more than 180 members of the security forces have been martyred and over 1,700 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq, including airstrikes. - Ankara