At least 26 members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and one Turkish soldier have been killed so far in what Turkish officials announced would be a “major” offensive against the Şırnak Province.

Turkish warplanes began pounding locations in the Şırnak and Hakkari Provinces yesterday, accompanying it with an announcement that 2,000 ground troops would be deployed into the region to target PKK sites.

The PKK had launched attacks on military sites in Şırnak several times in recent weeks, ambushing convoys and attacking border posts along the Iraq and Syria borders. The group has been at war with Turkey for some 28 years.

The PKK hasn’t issued death tolls of their own yet, but generally speaking they have claimed more Turkish soldier deaths in incidents than the Turkish military has been willing to concede.

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