Three Turkish soldier were killed late Monday in terrorist attacks carried out by the PKK in southeastern Diyarbakır and Şırnak provinces.

According to local governmental sources, the incident in Diyarbakır took place as Turkish troops backed by gendarmerie forces pursued the anti-terror operation in Cevatpaşa, Fatihpaşa, Dabanoğlu, Hasırlı, Cemal Yılmaz and Savaş neighborhoods of Sur district amid an ongoing curfew since early December.

The soldier succumbed to his injuries after he was transferred to Diyarbakır Military Hospital.

In Şırnak, PKK terrorists attacked a police shuttle with rockets, killing two and injuring 10 others.

Turkish security forces have killed 544 PKK terrorists in three districts of southeastern provinces of Diyarbakır and Şırnak since counter-terror operations began in Dec. 15, according to Turkish General Staff's latest statement issued on Saturday.

The Turkish government has intensified its counterterror operations following the recent attacks carried out by the PKK, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the EU and Turkey.

Formed in 1978, the terrorist group has been fighting the Turkish government for an independent state until the early 2000's. The group then shifted its goal to autonomy in predominately Kurdish inhabited regions of Turkey.