Three Turkish soldiers were killed and another was injured during a clash with the terrorist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in the southeastern province of Şırnak on Wednesday, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
The clash, which also resulted in the death of one PKK militant, took place in the Silopi district of Şırnak, where Turkish security forces launched an operation in the village of Kösreli to protect Turkish Petroleum Corporation (TPAO) employees working in the area against PKK attacks.
A search is underway to capture the PKK militants.
The clash took place shortly after Turkey launched an operation against the PKK, named Kıran, in Şırnak, Hakkari and Van provinces.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement Monday that the operation aims to destroy the camps and shelters of the PKK in the area as well as “neutralizing” its militants.
The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and EU, has been waging a bloody war in Turkey’s Southeast since 1984.