24 Turkish soldiers injured by PKK terror attack in Van province
Bau015fkale-Hakkari highway, where PKK terrorists attacked army convoys, September 22, 2015 (AA Photo)


Twenty-four soldiers have been injured Monday night in two separate attacks involving planted handmade explosive against army convoys in eastern Van province, the governor's office said.The Van governor's office said Tuesday in a statement that two separate explosions occurred as military vehicles were passing on the Van-Hakkari highway.The governor's office said that the first attack happened Monday at 22:22 hours (19:22GMT)."Thirteen soldiers, including one critically, were injured in the explosion," the statement said.Previously, security sources told Anadolu Agency that the incident had happened at around 11.30 p.m. (2030GMT) Monday night on the Başkale-Hakkari highway.The injured soldiers were taken to Başkale State Hospital. After the first medical interventions, they were taken by helicopter to Yüzüncü Yıl University's Dursun Odabaş Medical Center for additional treatment.The Van Governorship said that a second attack involving planted handmade explosives took place Tuesday at 01.47 a.m (2247GMT Monday) injuring 11 soldiers.PKK terrorists are suspected of having detonated the planted handmade explosives by remote control.Turkish security forces have launched a broad operation in the region to apprehend those responsible for the attack.A total of 123 Turkish security forces and 29 civilians have been killed by the PKK since the conflict reignited in July.The Turkish army has officially killed a total of 1,196 PKK terrorists in ground-and-air operations from July 22 to Sept. 17.