The outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) launched a heavy attack on Turkish border posts that left 38 dead, Turkey's military leadership said Saturday in Ankara.

The PKK launched the attack from northern Iraq, the military said, adding that 15 Turkish soldiers and 23 PKK fighters were killed in the attack.

Two soldiers were unaccounted for.

The attack took place on the Aktutun border post in the south- eastern province of Hakkari.

Turkish fighter jets have bombed suspected PKK bases in northern Iraq several times in recent weeks.

In February, the Turkish Army claimed to have killed 240 PKK fighters in a week-long ground offensive in Iraq.

A total of 27 Turkish soldiers were killed in the February offensive, which was restricted to the Kurdish Autonomus Region of northern Iraq.

The PKK is listed as a terrorist organization by the European Union and United States.

It has been fighting for independence or greater autonomy for the Kurdish parts of Turkey since the 1980s.

The Turkish Army says that at least 35,000 people have died in the fighting since then.