Three soldiers dead, four wounded, including governor, in PK

[talsor]

Three soldiers were killed and four others wounded, including a district governor, in an attack by members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in Northren Kurdistan on Monday at a time of increased tensions between the PKK and the government.

Suspected PKK members attacked a military vehicle near the village of Gedikbaşı, located in Başkale, Van province, killing three soldiers, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

Dozens have been killed in the past few weeks after the PKK intensified its attacks against Turkish troops in the face of growing operations against PKK bases in southeast Turkey.

The wounded soldiers were taken to the city of Van for treatment.

The attack came on a day when Turkey's civilian leaders prepared to use an unprecedented opportunity this week to choose generals they trust after the top commanders of all four military branches resigned in protest over the detention of fellow officers facing coup conspiracy charges.

Turkish broadcaster NTV said Başkale Governor Bilgihan Bayer and his security guard were also among the wounded. It said a large number of troops was dispatched to the area for an operation.

The PKK threat was underlined two weeks ago when PKK members killed 13 soldiers in an attack in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır.

[Saipul]

Two soldiers killed in clashes as gunship crash kills pilot
Friday, August 19, 2011
ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

Two Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack on an army outpost in Siirt and one pilot lost his life in a helicopter crash in Malatya while the Turkish military struck PKK camps a second time in a combined aerial and artillery operation

A military outpost in Eruh district of Turkey’s southeastern Siirt province came under attack by alleged members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, late Thursday, daily Hürriyet reported on its website.

Militants attacked the outpost with rocket launchers and long-range assault rifles, the report said.

Non-commissioned officer İlker Atan and Private Recep Garlı were killed in the ensuing clash. Two PKK members were also killed while four other soldiers were injured.

Security forces launched an operation to neutralize the remaining militants who fled after the firefight.

Four civilians wounded

The Police Headquarters and Gendarmerie Command were targeted in a separate attack in Siirt's Pervari district.

PKK militants launched rockets at both buildings from different locations and opened fire with long-range weapons.

Clashes broke out after security forces responded to the attack. Four civilians were wounded by PKK fire.

Militants also launched rockets at the district’s Forestry Department, causing a fire to break out.

Pilot killed in helicopter crash

A Cobra gunship from the Malatya 2nd Army Command crashed during a training flight due to a technical malfunction near a landing zone in Malatya.

Pilot Capt. Erhan Kındar died in hospital due his injuries and pilot Capt. Kamuran Sönmezay was hospitalized with a broken spine.

Second night of air and artillery strikes

Meanwhile, Turkish jets struck at PKK camps in a second night of raids. F-16 warplanes from the 181st "Panther" squadron took off at 10 p.m. Thursday and dropped bombs on 28 targets.

Air strikes were preceded by artillery fire from the Turkish side of the border. Howitzers with a maximum range of 40 kilometers fired shells at 96 pre-determined targets.

Military officials said prepararations for future operations were underway and a land operation was a possible option.

[Saipul]

Turkish gov’t to strike PKK as at least 9 more killed in attack

Wednesday, August 17, 2011
ANKARA- Hürriyet Daily News

PM Erdoğan rages against the PKK as conflicting reports say an attack in southeast Turkey has killed as many as 12 security forces, bringing the death toll over the last month up to as many as 34

At least eight Turkish troops, including a major, and a village guard were killed Wednesday in an ambush in southeast Turkey, but conflicting reports have quoted numbers as high as 12 dead.

The Turkish General Staff reported on its website Thursday morning that eight soldiers and a village guard were killed in Wednesday’s attack, in which 15 others were injured and are expected to recover.

The Doğan news agency, or DHA, however, reported late Wednesday that 12 were killed. Meanwhile, the local governor has said two soldiers are missing in action.

The attack came just hours after the government announced plans to usher in a new era in the fight against terrorism in response to the deaths of 31 soldiers, or 34 if DHA’s report proves correct, in the last month.

“We are at the point where words fail. There is no need to talk but to act. You will see the measures once they are taken,” Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told reporters in Istanbul, vowing retaliation following a top security board meeting scheduled for Thursday. “We are at the point where our patience with regard to Ramadan has run out. Those who do not distance themselves from terror will pay the price.”

In addition to the eight soldiers, one village guard was also killed in the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, attack in the eastern province of Hakkari’s Çukurca district, Erdoğan said.

The soldiers were killed as a result of four mine explosions targeting special forces teams at two different points along the Hakkari-Çukurca road, the Hakkari Governor’s Office said in a statement. The attack also wounded 15 soldiers.

Possible responses to the PKK attack are expected to be discussed during the National Security Council, or MGK, meeting Thursday.

Erdoğan announced late Tuesday that the government was about to complete work on a new strategy in the anti-terror fight. “We will overcome this through God’s blessing by renewing our strategies according to new developments,” said Erdoğan. “A new era is beginning. Our nation will see that the murderous gang who possesses nothing sacred will be eliminated.”

Erdoğan was criticized when he hinted that the government was planning to delay operations until Ramadan ends. His statement Wednesday that the government’s patience with regard to Ramadan had run out suggests that measures could be taken within days.

President Abdullah Gül and Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz said the military would retaliate against the terrorists.

“This [fight] has no day and night [and doesn’t stop for any religious] festival. Our forces are always on alert,” Gül said in Ankara. Yılmaz also expressed his anger, saying the military would retaliate strongly against the terrorists. “They are testing our patience... We’ll retaliate in kind,” he said.

The attack came hours after the a ‘new era’ is announced in the fight on terrorism in response to the deaths of 31 soldiers in the last month. Responses are expected to be discussed during today’s MGK meeting.

[talsor]

The campaign started yesterday . Turkish planes are bombing the mountains as we speak .

[Saipul]

Yeah, I missed the story about 9-10 soldiers being killed (depending on the source). The PKK have inflicted heavy casualties against the Turkish military over the last 5 weeks.

[alan131210]

Turkey is scared shirtless as Kurds in Syria about to gain freedom. turkey ur next followed by Syria and Iran. ur times if oppressing Kurds coming to end. so yeah use your last shots cos that's all u got left