By Mumin Altas

ANKARA

Turkish security forces killed 13 PKK terrorists in airstrikes in Siirt province, southeast Turkey, a military source said Monday.

The operation in a rural area of the province involved F-16 jets, the source said on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media.

According to officials, more than 5,000 PKK terrorists have been killed in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq since the group resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the state in July last year.

During that period, nearly 600 security personnel have been martyred.

( Reporting by Mumin Altas : Writing by Diyar Guldogan )