Two soldiers died and one was injured when a group on the Syrian border opened fire on soldiers stationed in Doruklu Police Station in Urfa province Ceylanpınar district.
A conflict broke out last night in Ceylanpınar district’s Altıntepe Village between an armed group attempting to cross the border and the soldiers that gave a warning to stop, according to the news item on Hürriyet newspaper’s website. The armed group returned to Syria after the conflict.
Soldiers Adem Dövüşken, Yiğit Şahan and Berat Sağırkaya were injured. Adem Dövüşken passed away in Ceylanpınar Government Hospital where he was taken, and Berat Sarıkaya in Gaziantep University Şahinbey Research and Practice Hospital where he was taken by helicopter.
Yiğit Şahan’s treatment is ongoing in Şanlıurfa Harran University Research and Practice Hospital.
Governor’s remarks
"One of our soldiers was martyred and another hospitalized injured after a group opened fire on our security forces in Ceylanpınar district," wrote the governorate in their declaration last night. Another soldier lost his life after the statement.
"Our border units in Altıntepe Village, around 10-15 kilometers from Ceylanpınar district realized that armed constituents on the Syrian side were trying to cross the border in Rasul Ayn around 9:30 pm. An armed conflict broke out as a result," spoke Urfa Governor İzzettin Küçük to press members after exiting the hospital.
"We know there were many casualties following the armed conflict,” Küçük said about those attempting to cross the border and added:
"We know there were armed constituents. We are trying to determine why they were trying to cross the border. Our border commander is here as well; they are investigating on site. The incident is yet recent and hot. Needless to say, authorities are examining and evaluating the armed groups’ aims and reasons in crossing the border." (BK/PU)
* Photograph: Rauf Maltaş / Urfa province / Anadolu Agency (AA)
* Click here to read the article in English.
