PKK claims Sunday attack on Turkish troops, says 58 killed

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) claimed the Sunday suicide car bomb attack on a Turkish army checkpoint next to a base in the Semdinli district of the Kurdish province of Hakkari.

A Monday statement on the website of the military wing of the PKK, People's Defence Forces (HPG) also claimed that the number of Turkish casualties was 58, a much higher figure than the official count given by the authorities.

The government-appointed Governor's office in Hakkari had initially said the PKK attack cost the lives of ten soldiers and eight civilians, later correcting the latter number to five on Monday.

The HPG release said its suicide bomber identified as Mumin Aras managed to destroy five armored vehicles, four observations towers, three guardhouses, 13 positions and "greatly" harmed ten buildings inside the Turkish military base.

"This action was conducted in response to the isolation of our Leadership, martyred comrades in Semzinan and Cukurca operations and four citizens who were murdered in Gever," read the release, referring to Saturday killings of civilians by a Turkish police officer.

The word "Leadership" is used by PKK fighters and affiliated media for the faction's now imprisoned founder and leader Abdullah Ocalan. Turkish authorities rarely allow Ocalan to meet with his lawyers and family members.

Sunday's attack drew harsh condemnation from Turkish officials including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who vowed to "paralyze" the PKK, as well as the United States.

An online White House Press Secretary statement also condemned the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons (TAK) attack near a police station in Istanbul on Thursday, labeling the group as "the PKK's urban terrorist unit."

Turkish troops and PKK fighters have been locked in a renewed four decades-old conflict after peace talks failed last year.

Meanwhile in Diyarbakir Province, one Turkish soldier was killed and six others were wounded in clashes with Kurdish fighters near the district of Farqin, said Kurdistan24 Diyarbakir bureau.

The sub-governorate of Farqin (Silvan in official accounts) declared a curfew in 13 villages and 14 hamlets across the district according to an announcement on its website.

A Monday statement on the website of the Turkey's General Staff put the number of its losses at 88 and those of the PKK at 417 in operations, it said, conducted all over the country since August 29.

Editing by Ava Homa