ANKARA

A Turkish soldier was martyred in northern Iraq by PKK terrorists on Tuesday, according to the Turkish army.

A written statement by the Turkish General Staff said terrorists launched an attack on Turkish soldiers during an operation in northern Iraq.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- waged a terror campaign against Turkey for more than 30 years and has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people.

More than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including a number of women and children, have been killed since July 2015 alone when the group resumed its armed campaign against the country.

Reporting by Ali Kemal Akan; Writing by Sena Guler