Turkish forces arrest 16 PKK terrorists

Turkish security forces on Monday arrested 16 PKK terrorists in different parts of the country, a statement and security officials said.

Five PKK terrorists surrendered to Turkish forces in southeastern Şırnak province after they fled their shelters across the border in northern Iraq, according to a statement by Turkish General Staff.

In southern Adana province on Monday, at least nine PKK terrorists were arrested in a counter-terrorism operation, a security official, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on talking to the media.

Among the suspects, three of them were under 18 years of age, the official said. They were sent to the court under charges of "making terror propaganda on social media" and "attending illegal demonstrations."

In a separate operation in south-central Adıyaman province, police arrested two PKK-linked suspects. A number of organizational documents were also seized.

The PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and 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.