3 soldiers martyred, 20 injured in SE Turkey operation

Clashes between PKK terrorists and Turkish Armed Forces are ongoing in the area, security sources say

By Yilmaz Kazandioglu and Necmi Ertus

HAKKARI, Turkey (AA) – Three soldiers were martyred and 20 others injured in an operation against PKK terrorist organization in Turkey's southeastern Hakkari province on Saturday, security sources told Anadolu Agency.

The clashes between PKK terrorists and Turkish Armed Forces in the Cukurca district of Hakkari started at 6.45 a.m. (0345GMT) early Saturday, the sources said, speaking anonymously due to restrictions on talking to the media.

The injured soldiers, three seriously, were sent to Hakkari State Hospital.

The clashes were reported to be ongoing in the area.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year.

Since then, more than 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed.

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