Anti-terror op in SE Turkey: 1 soldier martyred

HAKKARI, Turkey

One soldier was martyred in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province during a conflict with PKK terrorists Sunday.

According to sources speaking on condition of confidentiality due to restrictions on speaking to the media, soldiers clashed with PKK terrorists during an operation in Hakkari’s Altinsu district.

In the conflict, one soldier was martyred and six others were injured.

The injured soldiers were immediately rushed to Semdinli state hospital.

As part of the operation, the Yuksekova-Semdinli roadway has been closed to traffic.

The operation is ongoing and is supported from the air to apprehend fleeing terrorists.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, over 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers and village guards have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed or neutralized in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.