Clashes along Turkey-Iran borders turn deadly: Turkish state-media

Rudaw

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region-- Two Turkish soldiers were killed and another five were injured on Saturday, during a clash between the Turkish army and an armed group, according to Turkish state media.

 

Citing security sources, state run Anadolu Agency (AA) reported that the fighting took place in Igdir province, close to the Turkish-Iranian border, but did not identify a specific group.


In a separate incident on May 10, one Turkish soldier was killed and another was injured in the same province, following the explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED).

Andolu alleged that the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) was behind the attack. 

One of the deadliest attacks on Turkish security forces in Igdir, took place in 2015 in the Dilicu area, when 14 policemen guarding a customs office, were killed by a roadside bomb attack, that was also attributed to the PKK.

 

Turkey has intensified its attacks against the PKK recently, and Hulusi Akar, Turkey's Defense Minister has said their objective is to "eradicate" the Kurdish fighters. 


Turkey and the PKK have clashed for three and a half decades inside Turkey and along the Iran-Turkey-Iraq borders, with an estimated 40,000 people , including members of the security forces and members of the guerilla group were killed in the conflict, since 1984. 

 

At least 4,397 people have been killed since the ending of a short-lived peace process between both sides in July 20, 2015, according to the latest numbers from the International Crisis Group (ICG), a conflict monitor, updated on Friday.

Turkey is building a 144 kilometre security wall on its borders with Iran in Agri province which borders with Igdir.

Graphics: Sarkawt Mohammed/ Rudaw

Iranian security forces have also clashed with members of armed opposition Kurdish groups based in Iraqi Kurdistan in recent years.

 

Recently, the official Iranian state agency, IRNA, reported on Thursday that one of the members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was killed in Chaldoran County, which borders Igdir, on late Tuesday.

 

IRNA identified  Ibrahim Akhondzadeh as the deceased.

Iran blamed “anti-revolution” groups, referring to a euphemism to Kurdish armed forces based in Iraqi-Kurdistan. 

Clashes in the region have also led to causalities amongst kolbars—semi-legal porters who transport goods across the Kurdistan Region- Iran border, either by foot or by horse.  

 

Since last week, around half a dozen kolbars were killed in the crossfire of clashes taking place along the border areas.