Turkish soldier killed in clashes with PKK in Mardin Nusaybin rural area
A Turkish soldier was killed in clashes with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the rural area of Mardin Nusaybin, according to official sources. The soldier, identified as Jandarma Astsubay Üstçavuş Mehmet Gündüz, was injured during the confrontation and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
The news has been met with expressions of condolences from across Turkey, with Numan Hatip, the governor of Tokat province, extending his sympathies to the family and fellow citizens of Sergeant Gündüz. In a statement posted on social media, Hatip expressed his grief and prayed for the departed soldier, saying "May Allah have mercy on him."
🇹🇷 Aziz Milletimizin başı sağ olsun.
— Tokat Valiliği (@tokatvaliligi) April 28, 2023
Mardin Nusaybin kırsalında yaralanan ve kaldırıldığı hastanede şehit olan hemşehrimiz Jandarma Astsubay Üstçavuş Mehmet Gündüz'e Allah'tan rahmet; ailesine, Tokatlı hemşehrilerimize ve Milletimize başsağlığı diliyoruz. pic.twitter.com/3lN08wCird
The PKK, a Kurdish separatist group, has been fighting for autonomy in Turkey's southeast for several decades. The group is classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.
The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between the Turkish military and the PKK, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people on both sides over the years. The Turkish government has been conducting military operations against the group in its southeastern regions, and has vowed to continue its fight against what it sees as a threat to national security.
The death of Sergeant Gündüz is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by Turkish soldiers in the region, and of the ongoing challenges in achieving peace and stability in the area.
