ANKARA, Turkey (AP) -- The Turkish military says it has killed 19 Kurdish rebels in airstrikes in southeast Turkey.

A statement posted on the military Web site says the airstrikes were launched in response to a late Friday rebel attack on a military outpost in Hakkari province, which killed two soldiers.

Hakkari is where the borders of Turkey, Iran and Iraq meet.

Rebels of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, have fought for self-rule in Turkey's southeast since 1984. Tens of thousands have been killed in the fighting.

Turkey has launched several aerial attacks and one major ground operation against rebel bases across the border with Iraq this year.