In the first incident, seven suspected PKK extremists were killed in a clash with security forces in southeastern Hakkari province, the source said.

Separately, two other PKK extremists were killed in Sirnak province, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said. The suspects were allegedly planning to assassinate regional District Governor Ahmet Adanur.

The PKK -- listed as a extremist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU -- resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July last year. Since then, more than 700 security force members have been martyred and around 8,000 PKK extremists killed or apprehended.