At Least Two Police Officers Killed in PKK Attack in Southern Turkey

The attack of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militants at a police checkpoint in Turkey's southern Hatay province claimed lives of two police officers, local media reported Monday, citing a security source.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The attack was launched near Mustafa Kemal University in the city of Antakya, the Anadolu news agency reported. A policeman is receiving treatment at a local hospital after the attack, the media outlet added.

The authorities kicked off a large-scale operation in the province following the attack.

The conflict between Turkey and Kurdish militant groups seeking independence escalated in July 2015, leading to frequent acts of terror by the PKK and regular anti-PKK operations by the Turkish government. The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the United States and the European Union.