PKK attack martyrs 3 soldiers in eastern Turkey

By Yilmaz Kazandioglu and Nevzat Tas

HAKKARI, Turkey (AA) - At least three soldiers have been martyred and five others injured in a PKK attack in eastern Turkey, said a military source Saturday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to media, said PKK terrorists attacked security forces with mortar shells in the Cukurca district of Hakkari province.

One soldier is in critical condition, said the source.

An operation was launched in the region to apprehend the perpetrators of the attack.

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

Since then, more than 700 security force members have been martyred and around 8,000 PKK terrorists killed or apprehended.