Istanbul: Turkish authorities today imposed a curfew in the mainly Kurdish southeastern town of Silvan, saying 17 suspected Kurdish militants had already been killed hours after the military lockdown was enforced.
The measure came into effect at 0400 GMT after security forces launched a major operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels late on Thursday, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.
The militants had erected barricades and dug trenches, it said.
The rebels were still attacking security forces with long-range rifles, it said.
The Turkish government launched a major campaign against the PKK in late July, aimed at forcing it out of strongholds in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.
More than 150 soldiers and police have been killed in attacks since July blamed on the PKK.
Turkish authorities in September enforced a controversial nine-day curfew in the mainly Kurdish southeastern city of Cizre, which according to activists left two dozen Kurdish civilians dead.
The renewed violence shattered a two-year ceasefire which had stoked hopes of an end to the PKK's three-decade insurgency, in which more than 40,000 people have died.
Police have detained scores of HDP officials, including district mayors in the southeast, on allegations they had called for regional "self-rule".
The escalation comes ahead of snap general election on November 1.
The measure came into effect at 0400 GMT after security forces launched a major operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) rebels late on Thursday, the state-run Anatolia news agency said.
The militants had erected barricades and dug trenches, it said.
The rebels were still attacking security forces with long-range rifles, it said.
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The Turkish government launched a major campaign against the PKK in late July, aimed at forcing it out of strongholds in southeastern Turkey and northern Iraq.
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More than 150 soldiers and police have been killed in attacks since July blamed on the PKK.
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Turkish authorities in September enforced a controversial nine-day curfew in the mainly Kurdish southeastern city of Cizre, which according to activists left two dozen Kurdish civilians dead.
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The renewed violence shattered a two-year ceasefire which had stoked hopes of an end to the PKK's three-decade insurgency, in which more than 40,000 people have died.
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Police have detained scores of HDP officials, including district mayors in the southeast, on allegations they had called for regional "self-rule".
The escalation comes ahead of snap general election on November 1.
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