A total of seven PKK terrorists were killed on Friday during ongoing anti-terror operations conducted by Turkish security forces in southeastern Hakkari province, the Turkish General Staff announced Saturday.

The statement said that four PKK terrorists were killed in airstrikes conducted by Turkish jets after a group of militants were spotted at the entrance of a cave in the Kumar region of Hakkari, while three terrorists were killed in subsequent clashes by Turkish ground forces as they were trying to flee the area.

The release also noted that lots of ammunition, improvised explosive devices (IED), and two DShK 1938 (Dashka) heavy machine guns were seized by troops conducting the counter-terror operation.

The PKK is officially listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and the EU.

Founded in 1978, the terrorist group resumed its decades-long armed campaign against the Turkish state in July 2015.

Since then, more than 1,200 people, including security force personnel and civilians, have lost their lives, while the terrorist group has lost some 10,000 militants, who were either killed or apprehended in anti-terror operations by the Turkish security forces.