Two martyred in PKK attacks in SE Turkey

DIYARBAKIR / SIRNAK, Turkey

Two Turkish security personnel have been martyred in PKK attacks in the southeastern provinces of Sirnak and Diyarbakir late on Saturday.

Murat Sevim, a village guard in Sirnak's Ismetpasa neighborhood, was severely wounded when he was attacked by PKK terrorists near his house.

He died later at Sirnak State Hospital.

Earlier in the day, one Turkish soldier was martyred in the Sur district of Diyarbakir province during a counter-terrorism operation against the PKK.

He succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack which happened while troops were filling ditches, removing barricades and defusing explosives planted by the PKK.

Four PKK terrorists were also killed in the same operation in Sur, according to a statement from the Turkish General Staff.

Sixteen other terrorists were killed during anti-terror operations in Cizre and Sur on Saturday.

The two southeastern districts have been among areas that have been the focus of counter-terror operations and military curfews since early Dec. 2015.

Turkish security forces have killed more than 600 PKK terrorists in total in the two districts since counter-terror operations began, according to a Turkish General Staff statement issued Saturday.

The PKK -- considered a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in late July last year.