A PKK terrorist has surrendered to Turkish security forces, according to the country's National Defense Ministry on Tuesday, while two others have been killed in southeastern Turkey.
The terrorist surrendered to Turkish commandoes near the Iraqi border in southeastern Hakkari province, the ministry said on Twitter.
"Escapes from the terror organization continue. A PKK terrorist in Hakkari-Aktutun surrendered to our commandoes. A hand grenade, an umbrella, other personal belongings and a backpack were seized during a body search," it said.
With the latest laying down of arms, the number of terrorists who surrendered through persuasion has risen to 95 in 2020.
The Interior Ministry, on the other hand, announced the killing of two PKK terrorists during an air-backed operation in rural areas of Hakkari province
Anti-terror operations are ongoing in the region, it added.
Meanwhile, Turkish forces also seized weapons and ammunition belonging to the PKK terror group in eastern Van province, the local governor's office said Tuesday.
An anti-terror operation was launched in a rural area of the Başkale district to locate stockpiles and hideouts of the terror group.
Two AK-47 rifles and some 7.62 mm cartridges were confiscated during the operation.
In its more than 40-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union, has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.
Turkish security forces regularly conduct counterterrorism operations in the eastern and southeastern provinces of Turkey where the PKK has attempted to establish a strong presence.
The forces have adopted "ending terrorism at its root" and "attack rather than defense" strategies for its operations across the country.
There has been a surge in the number of terrorists laying down arms and surrendering to Turkish security forces following this series of successful domestic and cross-border anti-terror operations while the number of people who join the terrorist group drops every year.
