Turkey strikes PKK targets as national mourning continues

Ten militants from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were killed Wednesday in the most recent strikes in the southeast, said the Turkish Army.

The latest in the series of relentless strikes on PKK targets was carried out three days after a deadly bomb attack on a rally for peace in capital Ankara. Saturday's suicide bombing near the central train station in Ankara killed at least 97 people, making it the bloodiest attack in the history of the Republic.

Government officials say the separatist PKK group could be behind the attack.

Three PKK terrorists were found dead with ammunitions in their possession including two automatic rifles, one Kalashnikov and one anti-aircraft weapon during the operations, jointly conducted by air and ground forces in Hakkari province, the General Chief of Staff stated on its official website.

Seven PKK members were neutralized when Turkish jets pounded the suspected terrorist targets. Three non-commissioned officers were slightly injured in the clashes which erupted in the province's restive town, Yüksekova.

Tensions in Turkey continue to escalate, with the general election approaching on Nov. 1

PKK hideouts in the predominantly Kurdish southeast of the country were successfully destroyed in a wide-scale operation conducted in the Lice, Kocaköy, Hani ve Hazro villages of Diyarbakır province, the military said.

Numerous soldiers flew from Diyarbakır's 7th Corps Command to the areas, where the clashes took place. The operation has aimed to destroy shelters, bunkers and other facilities which have been constructed by the PKK in preparation for winter.

Ground operations at the helicopter pad are reportedly still continuing.