Iran issued an advisory warning its citizens today to avoid land travel to neighbouring Turkey after an Iranian bus was attacked by gunmen.
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“Given certain recent activities and insecurity in Turkey’s east, the Foreign Ministry advises our respected citizens planning to travel to Turkey to avoid land routes until further notice and to use air routes if possible”, a short statement on the website of Iran’s Foreign Ministry read on Saturday.
There has been a spate of attacks on pipeline infrastructure in Turkey in the past week, with lines linking the country with Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan blown up.
The PKK announced last month that it was stepping up attacks, saying Turkish forces were violating a 2013 cease-fire.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ordered in late July air bombing of Islamic State group jihadists in Syria and also PKK fighters based in northern Iraq. It was followed by retaliatory attacks by the outlawed PKK against Turkish troops and police across the country, including the murder of two police officers in their home in the town of Ceylanpınar, also in Şanlıurfa province.
The driver of the bus later died of injuries he sustained to his head while three passengers were wounded.
Atrchian added that fortunately the passengers were not hurt and the bus went to nearest safe place driven by the assistant driver.
In Van and Ağrı provinces, militants killed two soldiers, bringing the death toll among Turkish security forces since July 20 to at least 26.
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The PKK is considered to be a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union. More than 40,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
