The clash broke out late Saturday in a mountainous area near Yuksekova, Hakkari province, during a military operation against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), the source said on condition of anonymity.

The PKK, considered a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the European Union and the United States, has been fighting for autonomy in the Kurdish majority southeast of Turkey since 1984.

The conflict has claimed some 45,000 lives, according to the Turkish army.

Earlier this month, the rebels announced that they were extending a ceasefire in their separatist campaign until July 15 in response to progress towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

They warned, however, that they would defend themselves if they came under attack from the Turkish military.