The military described the events as "armed harassment by terrorist criminals who acted as hit men for drug traffickers," a military statement said.

The province of Satipo, where the strike took place, is part of the coca-growing valley formed by the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro rivers, known by its acronym VRAEM, in southeastern Peru.

Peru's military has been monitoring the valley since 2006, when the government established that there is a remnant focus of the Shining Path.

The government says rebels work with drug traffickers to fund their operations.

Along with Colombia and Bolivia, Peru is one of the world's largest producers of coca leaf, a raw material for cocaine, according to the United Nations.

The Maoist-inspired group rose up against the government in the 1980s. Its activities have sharply declined since leader Abimael Guzman was captured in 1992.