ORDU, Turkey

An ongoing operation against the terrorist group PKK in Turkey’s Black Sea region saw three soldiers martyred on Sunday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Irfan Balkanlioglu, governor of the Ordu province, said the terrorists had opened fire at soldiers who were conducting anti-terror operations.

The soldiers had followed a tipoff to a forested area in the Mesudiye district, southwards inland from the coastal city of Ordu, he added.

"Unfortunately three soldiers were martyred and two others injured," Balkanlioglu said.

"The Provincial Gendarmerie Commander has arrived on the scene as well," the governor said. "With our security forces and our people, terrorists cannot find shelter in our region."

The conflict is continuing, he added.

The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization also by the U.S. and the EU – resumed its 30-year armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, over 600 security personnel, including troops, police officers, and village guards, have been martyred and more than 7,000 PKK terrorists killed or neutralized in operations across Turkey and northern Iraq.