An official says Turkish warplanes and attack helicopters are pounding Kurdish rebel positions in a major clash in a rugged area near Turkey's borders with Iraq and Iran.

Sedat Tore, mayor of the Turkish town of Semdinli, said Thursday he has seen the planes and helicopter gunships flying bombing sorties toward nearby Mt. Goman, where the rebels were believed to be hiding.

Tore says Turkish troops and Kurdish rebels have been clashing in the area for about two weeks, forcing some villagers to flee their homes. The governor's offce says at least two soldiers have been killed and 14 wounded.

Media reports say dozens of rebels have been killed, but authorities did not give a casualty figure for the rebels who are fighting for autonomy in the Kurdish-dominated region.