ANKARA (Sputnik) – Tensions between Ankara and the Kurds escalated in July 2015 as fighting between the PKK, the Kurdish pro-independence organization considered to be terrorists by Ankara, and the Turkish army resumed.
"Six of our comrades died and eight were injured during a shootout with members of the PKK separatist terrorist organization which began on May 13 at [01:50 GMT]," the statement read.
Six militants were killed in the shootout, according to the statement.
Ankara has also imposed several round-the-clock curfews in Kurdish-populated towns, preventing civilians from fleeing the regions where the military operations are taking place.