Turkey Captures 357 IS Suspects in Nationwide Raids
Coordinated Raids Across the Country
Over 350 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) have been detained in police operations conducted throughout Turkey. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 357 suspects were captured across 21 provinces during coordinated raids on Tuesday morning.
This operation comes just a day after three police officers and six presumed militants were killed during an eight-hour siege in the northwestern city of Yalova. Eight other police officers and one security personnel were injured in the incident.
Less than a week prior, authorities had detained another 115 suspects, who prosecutors claimed were planning attacks targeting non-Muslims during the Christmas and New Year period. In a social media post, Yerlikaya stated that Tuesday's operations took place nationwide, including in Ankara, Istanbul, and Yalova.
"Just as we have never given an opportunity to those trying to bring this country to its knees through terrorism, we will not do so in the future," he added.
The Interior Minister also released a video showing dozens of counter-terrorism officers participating in operations and apprehending several individuals. The raids conducted in Istanbul and two other provinces led to the seizure of documents and digital materials, while local media images displayed a range of weapons, including knives and ammunition.
A statement from the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office indicated that intelligence suggested the suspects might attempt an attack on New Year's Day. Additionally, it was noted that 41 of those detained had suspicious connections to the confrontation in Yalova on Monday.
Minister Yerlikaya further announced that 16 individuals were also arrested in Yalova for “provocative” social media posts. The funerals for the three officers killed in Yalova, identified as İlker Pehlivan, Turgut Külünk, and Yasin Koçyiğit, took place on Tuesday. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed condolences to their families and stated that Turkey will continue its fight against "criminals that threaten the peace of our nation and the security of the state."
Earlier this month, authorities conducted large-scale raids and arrested 115 people, with officials stating that IS supporters were actively planning attacks throughout Turkey, especially against non-Muslims during the festive season.
Turkey’s security services regularly target individuals with suspected links to IS. The country shares a 900 km border with Syria, where the group continues to operate in certain areas. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has close ties to the Turkish government, has pledged to collaborate with the U.S. and Europe to eradicate remaining elements of IS.
On Friday, the United States launched a series of airstrikes against the group's positions in Syria in response to the killings of three Americans. Two American soldiers and one civilian interpreter were killed by IS militants during an ambush earlier this month.
