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3 soldiers wounded in bomb explosion in NE Turkey

Xinhua, August 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

A bomb explosion wounded three Turkish soldiers in the northeastern province of Kars on Wednesday, private Dogan news agency reported.

The report said the bomb was planted by members of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK), and was detonated as an armored vehicle carrying the soldiers passed by the town of Sarikamis in the province.

The wounded soldiers were taken to the Sarikamis State Hospital for treatment, said the report, adding that an investigation into the blast is underway.

Meanwhile, one PKK militant was killed in clashes with Turkish security forces in the Igdir province in eastern Turkey Tuesday, said a statement issued by the Turkish Armed Forces.

In addition, 20 PKK rebels surrendered to Turkish security forces in the provinces of Sirnak, Hakkari and Bingol in southeastern and eastern Turkey Tuesday, added the statement.

Tensions between the PKK and Turkish security forces are increasing following a tumultuous week which began with an Islamic State (IS) suicide bombing July 20, killing 32 individuals and injuring 104 activists in the town of Suruc in the Sanliurfa province bordering Syria.

The People's Defense Forces (HPG), affiliated with the PKK, claimed responsibility for the death of the two police officers as retaliation to the Suruc bombing, insinuating that the officers were linked to IS.

According to a statement by the Turkish prime minister's office, Turkish security forces have detained over 1,300 individuals with suspected ties to IS, PKK and leftist groups, whilst the military unleashed several airstrikes on PKK posts in northern Iraq. Endit