Islam Times - 8 Turkish troops killed in PKK attack in southeast Turkey

Islam Times - At least eight Turkish soldiers have been killed and 16 others wounded in an attack by the members of the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey.

Local security services said the incident occurred in Yuksekova border region on Tuesday when the terrorists infiltrated into Turkey from their bases in northern Iraq to attack an army post in Yesiltas region in Hakkari province.

Reports said Turkish forces and combat helicopters pursued the attackers in the mountainous region which has been the scene of violent clashes between security forces and the PKK rebels in the past.

"Operations are continuing in the region. According to preliminary findings, 10 terrorists were rendered ineffective," the local governor's office said.

Thousands of PKK elements are believed to be based in mountain hideouts in northern Iraq, from where they regularly launch attacks on Turkish targets.

PKK is a terrorist group that launched an armed insurgency in 1984 to gain autonomy.

Listed as a terrorist group by Ankara and most of the international community, the group is held responsible by Turkey for the loss of nearly 45,000 lives over the past two decades.