With attacks by the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) having significantly increased on military convoys carrying troops in the eastern and southeastern parts of the country in recent months, the Ministry of Defense has struck a deal with Turkish Airlines (THY) to carry soldiers to their destination from now on Today`s Zaman reported.
THY will carry soldiers who are assigned to complete their military service in the eastern provinces, where the fight against the terrorist organization continues.
The deal, agreed upon on Monday and carrying a price tag of $11 million to be paid by the Ministry of Defense to THY, aims to boost the security of conscripts.
The new regulation will be put into effect soon and is expected to be fully implemented by January or February 2013.
The decision of the Ministry of Defense comes after nine soldiers were killed and more than 50 wounded in a PKK attacked in which the terrorist organization used rocket-propelled grenades to attack a military convoy carrying unarmed conscripts in the eastern province of Bingöl nearly two months ago.