By Muhammed Ali Toruntay

ANKARA

Five PKK terrorists have surrendered to Turkish security forces in Turkey's southeastern Mardin and Sirnak provinces, the Turkish General Staff said in a statement on Thursday.

Four terrorists, who had fled from PKK-harboring areas in northern Iraq, turned themselves in to security forces on Wednesday in Silopi district of southeastern Sirnak province, the statement said.

The security sources also detonated an improvised explosive device in a controlled explosion in Guclukonak district of Sirnak province. 

Separately, a terrorist, who had fled from PKK/YPG-harboring areas in Syria, surrendered to security forces on Wednesday in Mardin's Kiziltepe district.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- resumed its armed campaign against Turkey in July 2015.

Since then, it has been responsible for the deaths of more than 1,200 Turkish security personnel and civilians, including women and children.