Army death toll rises to four in clashes with PKK in Turkey's southeast

The soldier death toll in clashes with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Hakkari has increased to four, Turkish Armed Forces has said Oct. 18.

Three soldiers were killed in operations against the PKK in the Da?l?ca village of Hakkari?s Yüksekova district, while six soldiers were wounded, including one in critical condition. 

The army released a second statement on Oct. 18, stating that the heavily injured soldier had succumbed to his wounds, increasing the death toll to four. The treatment of five other soldiers is continuing, the statement said.

The army has claimed that 17 PKK militants died in the clashes.

One of the soldiers killed was Lt. Col. ?hsan Ejdar, the commander of the battalion conducting the operations in the area. 

Ejdar was promoted to the post after the battalion?s former commander, Lt. Col. ?lker Çelikcan, along with 15 of his men, was killed in a PKK ambush in the same area on Sept. 6.

The other two soldiers were Sgt. Turgay Topsakalo?lu, father of two, and Sgt. Samet Çak?r. The name of the fourth soldier has not yet been disclosed to the public. 

The PKK announced a unilateral cease-fire last week, but the Turkish military has been continuing offensives against militants in the region.

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