One police officer was killed while four others were injured in an attack by the suspected militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Turkey’s southeastern province of Şırnak early on Tuesday.
According to the police, the militants targeted an armored vehicle with rockets in the district of Silopi.
Among the five officers, two are still under care at the Silopi State Hospital, while one succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Immediately following the attack, the Turkish authorities declared a curfew in Silopi and launched military operations.
Silopi was under a blanket curfew between Dec. 14, 2015 and Jan. 19. After the 27 days-long curfew, 500 young people joined the PKK, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Peoples’ party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş claimed. “Not a single person joined our party, means they do not see any hope in Parliament” he said.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu along with the head of Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate, and some Cabinet ministers made an unannounced visit to Silopi on March 4.
A week after the Davutoğlu’s visit, Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz also paid a visit to the southeastern town.
Some 6,694 buildings have been declared damaged in the town of Silopi, according to assessment conducted by the Environment and Urbanization Ministry.
Hundreds of militants, members of Turkish security services and civilians have been killed since last summer when fragile peace process fell apart following a two-year-and-half peace process.
The PKK is designated as a terrorist group by Ankara, Washington and Brussels. At least 40,000 people have been killed in clashes between Turkish forces and PKK militants since 1984.