The People’s Defense Forces Press Office HPG-BIM reported a Skorsky type helicopter was shot down in the Yuksekova town of Hakkari Province Sunday by HPG guerrillas.

The HPG-BIM clarified that eight soldiers died and seven others were wounded due to the clash with the HPG guerrilla forces.

Contrary to the HPG-BIM statement, the Turkish General Staff said on Sunday the helicopter crashed due to technical failure shortly after taking off from an outpost.

HPG (Hêzên Parastina Gel - People’s Defense Forces, in Kurdish) is the PKK’s armed wing.

The PKK is an armed Kurdish guerrilla organization which since 1984 has been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights for the Kurds in Turkey.