ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — A Turkish army infantry sergeant was assassinated by unknown gunmen in the Semdinli district of Hakkari on Tuesday. The Turkish military announced that Ziya Sarpkaya, a sergeant serving in the 34th Border Brigade Command, was attacked on his way to the bank while wearing civilian clothes. Sarpkaya was rushed to Hakkari State Hospital, but died. "We strongly condemn this violent incident committed by thugs and criminals. May Allah have mercy on our martyr and grant patience to his family and our members of the Turkish military,” said the statement. Sarpkaya’s death follows an attack by unidentified gunmen on another Turkish serviceman in Malazgirt, a town in Muş province in eastern Turkey, Monday. The attack targeted Major Arslan Kulaksız in his private vehicle with his wife. The gunmen ambushed the vehicle and opened fire using machineguns wounding both passengers. Kulaksiz died in the hospital and his wife is recovering from minor injuries. Turkish authorities have launched search operations to capture the attackers. Tensions in Turkey escalated after the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) claimed responsibility for assassinating two policemen in Gaziantep on July 22, ending a shaky peace process in Turkey that began in 2013.
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