Turkish authorities have detained 32 suspects, including three leaders from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Anadolu Agency reported on Friday. According to the agency, the apprehended individuals were preparing to attack temples, churches, and the Iraqi embassy in Ankara.
Turkish Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, stated today (Friday) that the authorities have arrested 29 people suspected of having ties with the organization, during security operations across nine provinces. As reported on the website “X”, the suspects were arrested as part of “Operation Heroes – 37,” conducted today (Friday), for their plans to launch attacks on churches and Jewish temples in Istanbul.
In related news, the agency also reported that the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced the “neutralization” of 10 militants from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), including two in the Qandil region in northern Iraq, and the remaining eight in the Euphrates Shield operation area in northern Syria.
In recent years, Turkey has carried out significant operations against individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State (ISIS). One of the notable operations was “Operation Heroes-37”, where at least 29 suspects were arrested for allegedly planning attacks on synagogues and churches, as well as the Iraqi Embassy in Ankara. This operation was part of a broader security drive by Turkey’s forces ahead of the New Year festivities and potentially in the context of upcoming local elections.
In a separate large-scale operation, named “Hero-34”, Turkish police arrested over 300 individuals across 32 cities, suspected of having links to ISIS. The majority of these arrests occurred in Turkey’s major cities, including Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. This operation was significant in terms of its scale and coordination, involving Turkey’s intelligence and counterterrorism forces.
However, there have been concerns regarding the actual number of ISIS members incarcerated in Turkey and the effectiveness of the legal process against them. Reports suggest that many ISIS suspects have either been acquitted or had their convictions overturned by the Supreme Court of Appeals. This raises questions about the transparency and effectiveness of Turkey’s efforts in combating ISIS-related security threats
