News / Turkey

10 killed during two days of clashes in southeast Turkey

Monday, 09 May 2016 4:51 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 09 May 2016 5:27 PM ]

The file photo shows a Turkish soldier standing guard on the Syrian border. (AFP photo)

At least 10 people have been killed over two days of clashes between Turkish army and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants in the country’s volatile southeast.

On Monday, a Turkish soldier was reported killed in the southeastern town of Nusaybin, which is located at the Syrian border and placed under a round-the-clock curfew since mid-March.

According to Turkish military sources, nine PKK militants were also killed on Sunday in Nusaybin and the town of Sirnak.

Sources said fighting still continued in both southeastern towns throughout Monday.

Ankara has been engaged in a large-scale campaign against the PKK in its southern border region in the past few months. The Turkish military has also been conducting offensives against the positions of the group in northern Iraq and Syria.

The Turkish government has imposed curfew in the areas that have been targeted in the army’s anti-PKK campaign.

Turkey’s operations against the militant group came after last July bombing in the southern town of Suruc. Over 30 people died in the attack, which the Turkish government blamed on the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group.

The dead bodies of victims lie on the ground after an explosion rocked the Turkish city of Suruc near the Syrian border on July 20, 2015. (AP photo)

After the bombing, the PKK militants, who accuse the Turkish government of supporting Daesh, engaged in a series of reprisal attacks against Turkish police and security forces, prompting the Turkish military operations.

The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region in southeastern Turkey since 1984. The conflict has left more than 40,000 people dead.

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