Turkish authorities have detained eight individuals in a security operation against the terrorist organization “ISIS” in 6 provinces, centered in the province of Şanlıurfa.
Teams from the Counter-Terrorism Branch Directorate under the Gendarmerie Command in Şanlıurfa, acting on instructions from the prosecutor’s office in the province, began work to uncover “terrorist organizations and apprehend their members.”
The competent authorities identified addresses where 8 individuals were hiding and “confirmed that they are members of the ISIS organization.”
During the operation, 8 suspects were detained in simultaneous raids conducted at addresses in Şanlıurfa, Istanbul, Mersin, Konya, Sakarya, and Bolu.
The Counter-Terrorism Branch Directorate teams “seized 10 digital materials during the search of the addresses.”
Earlier this month, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the arrest of 41 individuals suspected of belonging to the terrorist organization “ISIS” in a wide-ranging security operation spanning 12 provinces.
Turkey has significantly ramped up its efforts to combat ISIS, conducting numerous widespread arrests. For example, in December 2023, Turkish authorities detained 189 people across 37 provinces as part of a security operation named “Operation Heroes-38,” which focused on preventing planned attacks on synagogues and churches.
Further demonstrating the scale of these efforts, in late December 2023, Turkey carried out another major operation, “Hero-34,” which resulted in the arrest of 304 suspects across 32 cities, highlighting ongoing efforts to dismantle potential ISIS networks and plots.
Moreover, in early 2024, Turkey detained an additional 40 suspected ISIS militants following reports linking a terror attack in Moscow to a suspect who had traveled from Turkey.
These actions form part of a broader strategy by Turkey to mitigate the threat posed by ISIS, which has been responsible for several deadly attacks within the country in previous years, including the notorious 2017 nightclub attack in Istanbul. These operations are also part of a political effort, particularly as they coincide with periods leading up to local elections, suggesting a dual focus on enhancing public safety and securing political stability.
