Major Yavuz Sonat, the commander of the Tunceli Provincial Gendarmerie Command
A Turkish major has been killed after clashes broke out with a group of outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the country’s eastern Tunceli Province.
On Saturday, the PKK militants attacked Turkish soldiers near the village of Yaprakli, seriously injuring Yavuz Sonat, the commander of the Tunceli Provincial Gendarmerie Command.
Sonat succumbed to his injuries after he was transferred to Fırat University Hospital.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalcin Akdogan condemned the attack, saying those responsible for “such bloody acts” would be brought to justice.
Three Turkish security forces have lost their lives in clashes in the region since Friday.
Furthermore, five civilians and more than 30 PKK militants have since been killed in Sirnak Province.
Turkish army has been targeting PKK positions and hideouts in Gara, northern Iraq.
Ankara launched an operation against PKK militants in the country, as well as PKK positions in neighboring Iraq in July. The operation led the PKK to declare a shaky ceasefire deal in place since 2013 null and void.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to eliminate the outlawed PKK, which has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since 1984.