By Nevzat Tas
HAKKARI, Turkey (AA) – Seven Turkish soldiers were injured late Tuesday in the southeastern province of Hakkari as they worked to clear the area of landmines, the city’s governorate said in a statement.
The soldiers, who are being treated at Yuksekova State Hospital, were injured when they destroyed the landmines laid by the PKK terrorist group in the Semdinli district, the statement said.
An operation has been launched to arrest the terrorists.
The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.
Since then, more than 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers and village guards have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed or neutralized in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.
*Hatice Kesgin contributed to this story from Ankara.