33 Turkish soldiers and village guards were killed in recent clashes in North Kurdistan, People’s Defence Forces (HPG), military wing of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) claimed.  HPG’s latest statement on causalities does not involve 7 Turkish soldiers killed in the attack against a naval base in Hatay.

“The clashes are a result of retaliatory attacks for military incursion of Turkish army” the statement said.  HPG also accused Turkish army of covering up military causalities.

33 soldiers were killed in clashes in Sirnak, Hakkari, Siirt and Mardin, the statement said.

16 were killed in a single attack in Sirnak province at Uludere on May 26.

HPG also said the attacks in Siirt provice at Pervari targeted those who are responsible for “rape scandal”.

2 soldiers were killed in Pervari on Thursday.

Eight minors aged 13 and 14 who study at a boarding school in Siirt’s Pervari district had raped two toddlers aged 2 and 3 last year, killing one of them. Pervari Mayor Ýsmail Bilen and several other officials attempted to cover-up the rape incident.

HPG statement also warned of more attacks against Turkish targets after June 1.

1 June is 7th anniversary of PKK’s statement that ended 5 years of unilateral ceasefire.