Iranian state media say militants have attacked Iranian security forces in the northwestern region of West Azerbaijan and killed five officers.

Iranian television says residents of the town of Maku near the Turkish border held a funeral ceremony for the five officers on Tuesday. It blamed Monday's attack on “thugs and saboteurs.”

Iran's northwestern areas have seen sporadic fighting in recent weeks between Iranian government forces and Kurdish rebels of the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan, or PJAK. Iran has said its forces have killed more than 20 rebels since launching an offensive against the group last month.

Details of the fighting cannot be independently confirmed as few outside observers can travel to the Iranian border region.