Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Seven soldiers were martyred and 25 others injured following an accidental explosion of defective ammunition in Turkey’s southeastern Hakkari province, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Saturday.
“Seven of our children were martyred and 25 were injured as of now due to the blast in a munitions depot in Hakkari. May God have mercy on our martyrs, and we wish our injured a quick recovery.”
The injured are being treated at a hospital while rescue workers are trying to reach seven missing soldiers, the National Defense ministry reported earlier.
At least 25 soldiers were injured by an accidental explosion of defective ammunition in southeastern Hakkari province, according to an official statement."Twenty-five of our military personnel were injured today at the Ortaklar Sungu Tepe military base in the Semdinli district when defective ammunition detonated during artillery shooting," said the National Defence Ministry.Video: Defective ammo blast in SE Turkey injures 25 soldiersThe injured are being treated at a hospital while rescue workers are trying to reach seven missing soldiers, the ministry added.Meanwhile, a Turkish court imposed a broadcast ban on the incident to prevent misinformation.Turkish defense chief visits SE province amid blast
Defective ammo blast in SE Turkey injures 25 soldiers
Speaking at an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the demise of the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Erdoğan slammed the U.S. for putting a bounty on key Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists, while at the same time cooperating with the terror group.
“We know very well how those who placed bounties on the heads of Qandil’s ringleaders are working with them behind the scenes. While patrolling together arm in arm with members of the same group in Syria, they target their leaders in Iraq. They think they’re fooling us.”
On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department put a bounty on three key PKK terrorists, the U.S. Embassy in Ankara announced. Under the Rewards for Justice program, people who give information on the identification or location of PKK terrorists Murat Karayilan, Cemil Bayik, and Duran Kalkan are eligible for rewards of $3-5 million.
At least 25 soldiers were injured by an accidental explosion of defective ammunition in southeastern Hakkari province, according to an official statement.
Defective ammo blast in SE Turkey injures 25 soldiers
In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of some 40,000 people, including women and children.
'Terror spots' destroyed in Iraq
Turkish army keeps destroying terror spots one by one in northern Iraq, Erdoğan also said in his speech.
Airstrikes by Turkish forces "neutralized" 15 terrorists in Gara, Zap and Avasin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq on Saturday.
The Turkish military neutralized 15 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorists in airstrikes carried out on Nov. 9 in the Zap, Gara and Avashin-Basyan regions of northern Iraq, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) said in a statement on Saturday.Turkish authorities often use the word "neutralized" in their statements to imply that the terrorists in question either surrendered or were killed or captured.The statement said Turkish jets also destroyed shelters and weapon emplacements.The Zap area in northern Iraq is a stronghold for the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey as well as the U.S. and the EU. The terrorist group has been trying to create a foothold in the north eastern Iraqi region of Sinjar since the area was cleared of the Daesh terror organization in late 2014.In its terror campaign against Turkey, which has lasted for more than three decades, over 40,000 people have been killed, including women and children.Turkey crosses off 4 wanted senior PKK terroristsPKK-linked suspects arrested on Turkish-Greek borderErdoğan: Four Turkish soldiers martyred in SE
Turkish army neutralizes 15 PKK terrorists in northern Iraq
Turkey’s centenary vision
“Our 2023 goals are not only restricted to the economy, but we’re also determined to become one of the world’s most advanced countries in matters of democracy,” President Erdoğan said.
Turkey’s 2023 Vision sets specific targets for improvements in the areas of economic activity, energy, healthcare, education, and transport.