Eight Turkish servicemen were killed and eight more were injured during anti-terrorist operations in the country’s Van province, the Anadolu Agency reported Sept. 3.

Reportedly, Turkey has neutralized 11 militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist organization in the Mount Tendurek.

The anti-terrorist operations continue with support of Turkish Air Force.

The conflict between Turkey and the PKK, which demands the creation of an independent Kurdish state, has continued for over 33 years and has claimed more than 40,000 lives.

The UN and the European Union list the PKK as a terrorist organization.