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2 soldiers killed in clashes in northeastern Turkey

Xinhua, October 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two soldiers of the Turkish security forces were killed in clashes with the militants of the banned Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) in northeastern Turkey on Sunday, private Dogan news agency reported.

The clashes between the PKK rebels and the Turkish security forces occurred in Incecayir Forest in Senyaka town of Erzurum province, leaving the two Turkish soldiers dead, according to the report.

After the clashes, the PKK rebels escaped from the scene, the report said, adding that the Turkish troops had launched a military operation in fight against the PKK militants.

Over 2,000 PKK militants have been killed since July in over 4,300 operations of Turkish security forces, Turkish Interior Minister Selami Altinok said.

The Turkish authorities have declared security zones or military forbidden zones in 231 regions of 22 provinces, the semi-official Anadolu Agency quoted Altinok as saying.

Tension has been running high, especially in southeastern Turkey, amid a major military operation against PKK militants since July when a cease-fire fell apart.

The PKK is designated a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States. Endit