ANKARA, Turkey, June 17 (UPI) -- The Turkish military said it killed 21 fighters from the separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) who tried to enter Turkish territory from northern Iraq.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet on Tuesday quoted a statement on the Web site for the Turkish army saying artillery units "neutralized" 21 fighters who had moved within 2 miles of the Turkish border. The raid occurred late Monday night.
Acting on intelligence provided by U.S. and Iraqi forces, the Turkish military had been targeting PKK fighters since December.
Around 5,000 Turkish special forces troops are conducting operations against the PKK using the air force and tank columns as support, Voice of America said.
Turkish officials Saturday blamed the PKK for an attack on a cargo train in southeastern Turkey, though the PKK issued no comment on the claims.
The United States and European Union consider the PKK to be a terrorist organization.
