Kurdish rebels attacked a Turkish military outpost

A group of rebels with automatic weapons attacked the outpost near the southeastern Bingol province, about 480 miles from the capital Ankara, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Some intelligence sources speculated that the attack might have been the work of a splinter rebel group opposed to the cease-fire.

The fighting between the military and rebels with the Kurdistan Workers Party has largely been reduced to sporadic clashes since 1999.

Turkish troops launched a counteroffensive after Thursday’s attack, authorities said. It was not clear if any Kurdish insurgents were killed.