Turkeys official news agency reported that three Turkish soldiers were killed in northern Iraq following clashes with Kurdish militants. Anadolu Agency, citing the Turkish Defense Ministry, said Sunday that another seven soldiers were also wounded and hospitalized. Turkey launched the "Claw" operation in May into mountainous northern Iraq against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the Associated Press reported. The offensive entered its third phase Friday, in which troops aim to destroy PKK caves and shelters in the Sinat-Haftanin region. Turkey, the United States and the European Union consider the group, based in the Qandil mountains of northern Iraq, a terror organization.