In Turkey

A Turkish soldier was killed in the southeastern Hakkari province, the country's Defense Ministry said on Aug. 28.

Infantry Ümit Çıkın, who lost his balance and fell in a position where he was on duty in the Şemdinli district, was killed on Aug. 28, the ministry's office of press and public relations said in a statement.

A Turkish soldier was fatally wounded during an anti-terror operation in eastern Turkey, a security source said late on Aug. 27.   

Specialized Sergeant Çetin Ak was struck by shrapnel during the destruction of materials found in a cave in Ağri province. 

Turkish security forces "neutralized" at least nine PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, the Defense Ministry announced on Aug. 15.

Three of the terrorists were neutralized in air-backed operations in Haftanin, and another six terrorists in the Zap and Avasin regions, the ministry said on Twitter.

Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın spoke via telephone on Aug. 14 with U.S. National Security Advisor Robert C. O'Brien about bilateral relations, Libya, the Eastern Mediterranean and Palestine, according to an official statement.  

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of Friday's emergency meeting of the European Union Foreign Affairs Council, according to reports.

According to the same reports, Mitsotakis briefed Merkel on Turkey's illegal activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

European Council President Charles Michel on Thursday held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to the former's spokesman Barend Leyts.

Turkey's defense industry body on Aug. 11 said Ankara was determined to continue its policies to ensure that the Turkish defense industry operates fully independently.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to hold a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel this week, according to reports in the Turkish media.

Erdogan wants to raise his proposal for a commonly accepted "formula" among the states of the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey's Sabah newspaper reported.

Turkey continues to block NATO defense plans for Poland and Baltic states despite a deal in London last year between Turkey's president and allied leaders, three allied diplomats and a French defense official said on Wednesday.

Diplomats said while Ankara has approved the plan, known as Eagle Defender, it has not allowed NATO military chiefs to put it into action.

Turkey has launched Operation Claw-Tiger against terrorists in northern Iraq, the National Defense Ministry announced early on June 17.