9 soldiers, 15 militants killed in clashes, ops in Turkey's southeast

A total of six soldiers were killed in clashes with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) while two pilots died as a military helicopter which was dispatched to pursue militants crashed in the eastern province of Hakkari early on May 13. 

Meanwhile, a ninth soldier died in eastern Thrace when a military vehicle rolled down a hill. 

Six soldiers were killed and eight others were wounded as clashes erupted between security forces and PKK militants at the Ç??l? base in Hakkari's Çukurca district at around 4:50 a.m. on May 13.

A helicopter was sent to the area to intervene against the militants but the helicopter crashed at around 5:50 a.m. due to an unknown technical problem. 

The General Chief of Staff released a statement on the incidents, noting that both pilots had died in the crash.

The pilots killed in the accident were identified as lieutenants Müjdat Kerem ?ahan and Burak Bikebah?i.

The soldiers who had died in the incidents have been identified as First Class Sgt. Ömer Sadettin Bak?r, Master Sgt. Mekan ?ahin and specialized sergeants Nazmi Kapucu, ?brahim Akarsu, Fatih Özdemir and Muhammet Ar?. 

An air-borne operation was launched to apprehend the militants, the statement said, adding that six PKK militants had been killed so far.

A ninth soldier was killed in the Kaynarca town of K?rklareli's P?narhisar district as a military vehicle rolled down a hill for an unknown reason during a military exercise. 

Sgt. Ekrem Çelik, 22, sustained injuries in the accident and was swiftly transferred to K?rklareli State Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. 

In a separate incident in the southeastern province of Siirt, police forces and gendarmerie officials seized a bomb...