2 soldiers martyred in clash with PKK in SE Turkey

By Abdullah Celik and Kaan Bozdogan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey

Two soldiers were martyred in an ongoing operation against the PKK terrorist group in southeastern Diyarbakir province Thursday, a security source said.

One of the soldiers was martyred at the scene, while the other died at the hospital after getting seriously injured in a clash with terrorists in the province's Lice town, the source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to media.

The operation in Lice against the PKK has been ongoing since June 22.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S., and EU -- resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, nearly 600 security personnel have been martyred and more than 5,000 PKK terrorists killed.