ANKARA, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Two Turkish soldiers were killed in an attack by Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) militants in the eastern province of Hakkari, the Turkish General Staff said Monday.

Another soldier was wounded in the attack which occurred during an ongoing counterterrorism operation in Semdinli district, the statement said.

Following the attack, The Turkish military launched a full-scale air-supported operation in the area.

The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU, has been striving for the establishment of an independent Kurdish state by armed combat since 1970s.

According to local media, the PKK has been responsible for the death of over 1,200 security personnel and civilians, since it resumed armed campaign against the Turkish government in July 2015 after a brief reconciliation period.