Turkish soldiers and PKK fighter killed in Sirnak

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Turkish officer and two soldiers were killed Thursday in heavy clashes with guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the town of Sirnak in southeastern Turkey.

A statement issued by the Turkish Army's chief of staff claimed the PKK guerrillas launched an assault on the Turkish troops who were in charge of protecting a military convoy carrying soldiers to camps in some districts of Sirnak.

The statement added that a unit of special forces were sent to the area backed by military helicopters and unmanned drones. The ensuing attack resulted in the killing one of the PKK fighters suspected of being involved in the attack.

Search operations are still ongoing in areas near where the attack took place, the statement said.