Turkish authorities detained 357 suspected members of the Islamic State group (IS) across 21 provinces on Tuesday, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The coordinated raids followed a siege in Yalova, a northwestern town, where three police officers and six alleged militants were killed on Monday.
Yerlikaya announced the nationwide operations via a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that the raids took place in cities including Ankara, Istanbul, and Yalova. He emphasized the government's commitment to combating terrorism, saying, "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." The minister also shared a video on social media that appeared to show several people being detained.
These detentions come less than a week after authorities arrested 115 suspects who prosecutors alleged were planning attacks targeting non-Muslims during the Christmas and New Year's period. The recent operations highlight Turkey's ongoing efforts to counter the threat posed by IS and other extremist groups within its borders.
Turkey has faced numerous attacks by IS in the past, including a mass shooting at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve in 2017 that killed 39 people. The country has also been a key transit point for foreign fighters seeking to join IS in Syria and Iraq.
The government has increased its counterterrorism efforts in recent years, conducting regular operations targeting suspected IS members and disrupting their networks. The latest detentions signal a continued commitment to preventing future attacks and maintaining security across the country. The investigation into the detained suspects is ongoing.
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