This file photo shows soldiers inspecting the site of a PKK attack near Dağlıca in 2007 which killed 12 troops. (Photo: Today’s Zaman)
The Turkish military said on Monday that 16 soldiers were killed and six others were wounded in a clash over the weekend that erupted following an attack by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the Dağlıca area of Hakkari.
According to reports, the clash began at around 3 p.m. on Sunday and pro-PKK websites reported on it at around 7 p.m. The news of the ambush and the ensuing clash was not reported on by Turkish news agencies until 9 p.m.
The private Cihan news agency reported that the clash erupted after PKK terrorists remotely detonated landmines planted beforehand while two armored military vehicles were passing, and opened fire on the vehicles at the same time. Helicopters and special forces backed up the troops during the clash, which lasted for many hours, according to Cihan.
The clash marks a crescendo in a deadly stream of attacks since July, which officials said had already claimed the lives of at least 70 members of the security services and hundreds of PKK terrorists.
The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in both Europe and the United States.
Both sides, the Turkish government and the PKK. blame the other for the collapse of the cease-fire in July, which has left efforts to bring a lasting end to the Kurdish issue in tatters.
The location of the ambush had painful symbolism for the Turkish armed forces. It took place near the village of Dağlıca, the scene of a PKK attack in 2007 in which 12 soldiers were killed and eight captured.
Source: Zaman