1st LD: 3 Turkish soldiers killed, 6 wounded in explosion in eastern Turkey

Three soldiers of the Turkish security forces were killed and six others wounded in a bombing explosion in Bingol province in eastern Turkey on Saturday, local Hurriyet newspaper reported.

The bomb was planted by the militants of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and was detonated as an armored vehicle carrying the soldiers passed by Hacilar Mevkii region, according to the report.

Following the blast, the clashes between the Turkish security forces and PKK rebels erupted in the region, said the report.

On Friday, a group of PKK militants opened fire on the Turkish troops who were on duty in Daglica region in Yuksekova town of Hakkari province, leaving three soldiers dead and six others wounded, the state-run Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Tuesday vowed to continue military operations against the PKK until the disarmament of the group.

"We will persevere in our struggle until they lay down and bury their arms, and until the last terrorist leaves the country," said Erdogan.

Tensions between the PKK and Turkish security forces are increasing following a tumultuous week which began with an Islamic State (IS) suicide bombing on July 20, killing 32 individuals and injuring 104 activists in the town of Suruc in the Sanliurfa province bordering Syria.

The People's Defense Forces, affiliated with the PKK, claimed responsibility for the death of the two police officers as retaliation to the Suruc bombing, insinuating that the officers were linked to IS.

According to a statement by the Turkish prime minister's office, Turkish security forces have detained over 1,300 individuals with suspected ties to IS, PKK and leftist groups, whilst the military unleashed several rounds of air strikes on PKK posts in northern Iraq. Endit