Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said in an opening ceremony he attended in Sakarya province of Turkey yesterday that clashes were ongoing between the Turkish troops and 25 members of the Peoples Defence Forces (HPG), two hours after the explanation of the Ex-Interior minister Efkan Ala in Erzurum that "the terrorists organising the attack were neutralized."

Former Interior Minister Efkan Ala and President Tayyip Erdoğan made contradictory statements about the clashes between HPG (People's Defense Forces) guerrillas and Turkish soldiers in a rural area in Ağrı province of North Kurdistan yesterday. The clash reportedly broke out on the skirts of the Mountain Tendürek where Turkish troops launched an operation before a sapling planting event by civilians led by HDP and DBP in Yukarı Tütek village.

The ex-Interior Minister Efkan Ala who was attending the introductory meeting of parliamentary candidates in Erzurum province stated that one gendarme lieutenant and three specialized sergeant were wounded in the clash in Ağrı. Ala argued that "the terrorists organising the attack were neutralized".

Two hours later, President Erdoğan who attended an opening ceremony in Sakarya made a different statement, claiming that the Turkish troops involved in an operation had been targeted by guerrillas whom he continues to describe as terrorists.

Erdoğan condemned the attack which -he said- "aimed to shatter the environment of peace in the country and undermine the resolution process".

Contradicting the statement of Efkan Ala, Erdoğan remarked that the clashes were still going on, further claiming that the clash was taking place between Turkish troops and 25 members of the HPG (People's Defense Forces).