Two soldiers and 34 militants were killed in two attacks and the ensuing military operation in southeastern Turkey late Sept. 24 and early Sept. 25, the Turkish Armed Forces has announced. The Chief of General Staff said in a written statement on Sept. 25 that one soldier was killed in each attack by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants in southeastern Şırnak province. Nine soldiers and a village guard were also injured in the attacks that started at 11:00 p.m. Sept. 24 and 5:40 a.m. Sept. 25. A counterstrike by the Turkish army caused "significant casualties" among the militants. "Consequently, 34 terrorists were neutralized with their arms and equipment through coordinated operations conducted by our specialized troops supported by unmanned air vehicles, air forces and helicopters," the statement said. The PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, renewed their armed campaign two months ago following the July 20 Suruç massacre, in which a suspected Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) militant killed 33 pro-Kurdish activists. Since July 20, more than 120 Turkish security forces have been killed in PKK attacks. Dozens of militants have been reported as killed in ground and air operations launched by Turkey against the PKK.
