ANKARA(AA)

Three more PKK terrorists surrendered to Turkish security forces in the country’s southeastern provinces, the Interior Ministry announced on Saturday.

Police and gendarmerie in coordination with the ministry worked to convince the terrorists to turn themselves in in Mardin and Sirnak provinces, the ministry said on Twitter.

It added that the terrorists joined the terror organization in 2014 and 2015.

A total of 157 terrorists have surrendered to Turkish forces in 2020 through these persuasion efforts, the ministry said.

Turkey recently launched an anti-terrorism operation in the region aimed at eliminating the separatist terror group from the country and neutralizing all terrorists taking shelter in the region.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants.