Turkish soldier martyred in hospital

MANISA, Turkey

A Turkish gendarme sergeant was martyred Thursday at Gulhane Military Medical Academy (GATA) in Ankara where he was receiving treatment, says his family.

Sgt. Sevket Kolankaya, 24, injured by a handmade explosive during an anti-terror operation against the PKK in the southeastern province of Sirnak on March 26, reportedly succumbed to his wounds at the military hospital.

Kolankaya received initial treatment at Sirnak State Hospital before being transferred to GATA.

The PKK – also seen as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the EU – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, over 400 members of the security forces including troops, police officers and village guards have been martyred and more than 3,700 PKK terrorists killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.