3 Killed, 7 Wounded In Clashes Over "trench Battle" In Silopi

– Governorate of Silopi district of southeastern Şırnak province announced that three people were left killed while 7 people including two police officers were wounded after the clashes with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). In Silopi, the outlawed (PKK) militants have opened fire with rocket launchers and long barrelled weapons over security forces who were attempting to close the ditches on the streets.

The statement also identified two of the decedents, 17-year-old Mehmet Hıdı Tanboğa and 58-year-old Hamdin Ulaş. Five of the causalities were reportedly hospitalized and in good condition. On the other hand, the conditions of two police officers were not revealed in the statement.

In Silopi’s Başak and Barbaros neighbourhoods, the youth branch of the PKK have entrenched to block the entries of security forces. On Aug 7 around 05.00 a.m. district police department headed to the region on armed vehicles and earth diggers in attempt to close the trenches. However a clash occurred after the counterattack of the police to PKK’s fire.

The statement of governorate also declared “our security forces maintain taking security measures and launching necessary operations to prevent threat against our people’s security of life and property. Units of district gendarmerie have been deployed to strategic points on their armed vehicles, while helicopters keep patrolling in the security-alarmed district.

An extraordinary tense climate keeps striking the district, as people locked themselves in their houses because of security tension. Reports also said that fire has erupted in some of the houses in the neighbourhood where clashes continue.