Kurd Suicide Attack Kills 2 Turkish Soldiers

DIYARBAKIR Two Turkish soldiers and an armed guard were killed in a blast from a homemade mine planted by Kurdish militants on Tuesday in the southeastern province of Sirnak, security sources said.

The military vehicle was attacked with rocket-propelled grenades and guns in the vicinity of Arakoy village after an explosive device detonated, sources added.

In late July, Turkey launched a military campaign against the PKK in northern Iraq, following the death of two police officers in the southern city of Ceylanpinar.

According to an AFP toll, 20 members of the Turkish security forces have been killed in attacks blamed on the PKK since the current crisis began.

The explosion triggered clashes between Turkish soldiers and PKK rebels, they said, confirming a report by the official Anatolia news agency.

There was no immediate claim, but the PKK have repeatedly targeted energy infrastructure in Turkey in the past.

“We want to see these attacks cease; we want to see the PKK renounce violence and reengage in talks with the government of Turkey”, State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters.

Last week, an explosion hit a gas pipeline between Turkey and Iran, a target of frequent attacks by the PKK until a 2013 ceasefire, which was terminated when Turkey launched the anti-PKK campaign.

The fresh attack came two days after two soldiers were killed and 24 others wounded in a suspected suicide attack in eastern Agri province.