Turkish authorities conducted widespread operations against individuals suspected of belonging to Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) on Wednesday, resulting in the detention of 125 people in simultaneous raids across 25 provinces. Over the past week, the police have apprehended numerous ISIS suspects in nationwide raids aimed at preventing potential attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
During one such operation in the northwestern province of Yalova on Monday, members of a suspected ISIS cell engaged in a shootout with the police. The clash resulted in the deaths of six ISIS suspects and three police officers, while eight officers and a night guard sustained injuries when security forces raided a house being used as a hideout. Authorities confirmed that all the militants involved were Turkish nationals.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that the raids carried out on Wednesday were coordinated by the police and gendarmerie forces across cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, and Yalova. Yerlikaya emphasized in a social media post that those attempting to disrupt unity and exploit faith will face the full force of the state and the solidarity of the nation.
ISIS has been responsible for a series of deadly attacks in Turkey, notably the shooting at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year’s celebrations on January 1, 2017, which claimed the lives of 39 individuals.
Turkey has previously conducted large-scale operations against suspected ISIS members, with the recent sweep occurring amidst a perceived global resurgence of the terrorist group. This resurgence has been exemplified by a recent ISIS-inspired attack in Australia and assaults on U.S. forces in neighboring Syria.
In Syria, nearly 25 ISIS operatives were reported killed or captured this month by the U.S. military following an ambush that resulted in the deaths of two U.S. troops and an American civilian interpreter. The U.S. Central Command disclosed that 11 missions were executed over the past 10 days, following initial strikes on ISIS weapons facilities and infrastructure in central Syria on December 19.
Syrian security forces have also intensified operations against ISIS, conducting raids on the outskirts of Damascus. During these operations, Taha al-Zoubi, identified as the ISIS leader in the Damascus area, was apprehended, while Mohammed Shahadeh, a senior ISIS commander in Syria, was reported to have been killed.
