ERBIL — The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack a day earlier which exploded a strategic pipeline delivering Iranian natural gas to Turkey.

The Press Office of People's Defense Forces (HPG), a military wing of the PKK, said a fighter of the group attacked the Turkish forces guarding the pipeline on March 31, engaging the troops and then blowing herself up in an action called by the group “self-sacrifice”.

According to the statement, the attack was carried out near the Gurbulak border crossing in Bazid (Dogubeyazıt) district of Agri.

The female fighter was identified by the PKK as Sema Kocer, 25, originally from Siirt province in southeast of Turkey.

The group claimed that the attack killed at least 30 Turkish soldiers and destroyed five armored vehicles while halting gas exports to Turkey after the explosion destroyed the pipeline.

BasNews