54 Kurdish rebels killed in past 3 days in Turkey

Hundreds dead since July in renewed fighting with Turkish troops, Kurdish towns of Cizre and Silopi under curfew

A Turkish army helicopter flies behind a Turkish flag during a military parade marking the 93rd anniversary of Victory Day in Istanbul on August 30, 2015. (Ozan Kose/AFP)

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey’s state-run news agency says security forces have killed some 20 Kurdish rebels in southeastern Turkey, raising the number of militants killed in three days of operations to 54.

The government imposed curfews in the mainly Kurdish towns of Cizre and Silopi as troops and police battle militants linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK who have moved their fight for autonomy to some towns and city neighborhoods.

The government says militants have placed explosive devices, dug trenches and set up barricades in the two towns. At least eight security force members have been wounded.

Hundreds of people have died since July in renewed fighting between the PKK and Turkish troops.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.

read more: