Death of Two More Soldiers Amid Continued PKK Militant Attacks in Southern Turkey

The Turkish army announced on Tuesday, April 14, that militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) attacked a military base in southeastern Turkey, resulting in the deaths of two Turkish soldiers and five Kurdish militants. According to Reuters, this attack occurred in Hakkari province. This marks the third clash between the army and PKK members in the last three days, resulting in casualties. On Sunday, the Turkish army reported that PKK militants attacked the army in Mardin province with rockets and barrel bombs, killing three Turkish soldiers and four Kurdish militants during the clash. Additionally, in another operation on Sunday, seven militants were killed in Sirnak province. Clashes between the Turkish army and Kurdish militants have escalated since last year, and last week, Cemil Bayik, a leader of the PKK, stated in an interview with the BBC that the group is prepared to escalate its response to the Turkish army's aggression, an interview that Turkey labeled as 'terrorist propaganda' and criticized the BBC for facilitating. The clashes have particularly intensified in southeastern Turkey in recent months. The PKK has claimed responsibility for several suicide bombings in major Turkish cities in recent months. In this context, a spokesperson for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government announced on Monday that Turkey has prevented 85 incidents since January, most of which (49 cases) were reportedly suicide attacks. Numan Kurtulmus in Ankara told reporters that Turkey is engaged in a massive fight against terror. In the latest suicide bombing in Turkey, which occurred last week near an ancient mosque in Bursa, the PKK was involved, resulting in no casualties other than the female bomber. At the beginning of April, the United States warned its citizens to avoid tourist areas in Turkey, as the government continues to receive credible indications that terrorist groups are planning attacks on crowded tourist areas in Turkey. Following the bombings, the Turkish government has consistently pointed fingers at either the PKK or the Islamic State group. Turkey and its Western allies consider the PKK a terrorist organization. Since the onset of the conflict between the Turkish army and this group in 1984, over 40,000 people have been killed. In this context, Turkish F-16 aircraft have been bombing PKK positions, continuing the clashes in southeastern Turkey, with reports of '70 PKK members' killed in recent battles with the army. The Turkish Prime Minister stated that the Ankara bombing was the work of the PKK and Syrian Kurds. Reactions to the Istanbul explosion suggested a possible connection to either ISIS or the PKK. Turkish fighters killed 24 militants in attacks on PKK positions. The death of two soldiers and injuries to about 50 others occurred in an attack 'by the PKK.'