SULAIMANIYA, Iraq, (Reuters) – Kurdish PKK rebels said on Thursday they killed four Turkish soldiers and shot down a Turkish helicopter during clashes on the Turkish side of the remote border with Iraq.

The clashes began with a Turkish military operation early on Thursday, PKK spokesman Ahmed Danees told a Reuters correspondent in Kurdish northern Iraq by telephone.

“Fierce clashes are continuing between the Turkish army and our fighters,” Danees said. “I can confirm to you that four Turkish soldiers were killed and a helicopter was downed by our fighters.”

The Turkish military reported the deaths of four soldiers in fighting and said a helicopter crashed because of technical problems. It said one soldier was killed and 15 were injured in the crash.