Scores of Militants, Troops Die in Clashes in Hakkari

Members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) detonated a mine while an armored military vehicle was crossing near the village of Kırıkdağ in the southeastern province of Hakkari, killing two specialist sergeants and injuring another soldier on Monday morning.

The wounded soldier was subsequently carried off to the Hakkari Military Hospital, while Hakkari Governor Orhan Alimoğlu said the incident took place at 07:00 on Monday morning.

Officials then launched a military operation in the area on suspicion there could be other explosives and closed down the highway between Hakkari and the eastern province of Van.

Press reports indicate that 15 PKK members also lost their lives during military operations that began two days ago in Dağlıca in Hakkari's Yüksekova district, following the fierce clashes in recent weeks in nearby Şemdinli.

Roadside bombs also killed one soldier and injured two more during the operation in Dağlıca. (AS)