Turkish authorities have launched a massive counter-terrorism operation resulting in the detention of 357 individuals with alleged connections to the Islamic State group. The coordinated nationwide raids, spanning 21 provinces including Ankara, Istanbul, and Yalova, represent one of the most significant security operations against the extremist organization in recent months.
The operation comes in direct response to escalating security threats, including a deadly eight-hour siege in Yalova just one day prior that claimed the lives of three police officers and six suspected militants while leaving eight additional officers and a security force member wounded. This incident marked a severe escalation in violence between Turkish security forces and suspected ISIS operatives.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, who publicly documented the operations through social media platforms, emphasized Turkey’s unwavering stance against terrorism. “Just as we have never given an opportunity to those who try to bring this country to its knees with terrorism, we will never give them an opportunity in the future either,” Yerlikaya declared in an official statement.
Security operations yielded substantial evidence, with Istanbul prosecutors confirming the seizure of documents, digital materials, and weapons including knives and ammunition during raids targeting 110 suspects alone. Intelligence assessments indicated planned attacks targeting New Year’s celebrations, continuing a pattern of holiday-period threats that previously led to the arrest of 115 suspects allegedly planning attacks against non-Muslims during Christmas observances.
The investigation has revealed complex networks, with 41 detainees showing direct connections to the Yalova confrontation. Additionally, authorities detained 16 individuals in Yalova for allegedly making provocative social media posts, demonstrating the multifaceted approach to counter-terrorism efforts.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan personally offered condolences to the families of the fallen officers—identified as İlker Pehlivan, Turgut Külünk, and Yasin Koçyiğit—while reaffirming Turkey’s commitment to combating “bloodthirsty criminals who threaten the peace of our nation and the security of our state.”
Turkey’s strategic position, sharing a 900-kilometer border with Syria where ISIS maintains operational presence, necessitates continuous vigilance. The recent developments coincide with international counter-ISIS efforts, including U.S. airstrikes in Syria following the killing of three Americans by ISIS gunmen earlier this month.