Turkish authorities have launched a significant nationwide crackdown on the Islamic State (IS) militant group, resulting in the detention of over a hundred suspects. The operation comes in the wake of a violent incident that claimed the lives of three police officers earlier this week.
Nationwide Sweep Nets Dozens of Suspects
On Wednesday, security forces across Turkey conducted simultaneous raids in 25 provinces, including major cities like Istanbul and the capital Ankara. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the results of the operation on social media platform X.
"We captured 125 Daesh suspects in simultaneous operations carried out in 25 provinces this morning," Yerlikaya stated, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. The minister also shared a video from the raids, which showed security personnel storming residences and several detainees with their hands cuffed behind their backs.
Operation Follows Deadly Clash with Militants
This large-scale security action is part of an intensified campaign against the extremist network. It follows a tragic event on Monday in the northwestern province of Yalova, where a confrontation with IS members turned deadly.
During that operation, three Turkish police officers were killed. The hours-long clash also resulted in the deaths of six members of the Islamic State, all of whom were reported to be Turkish nationals. In a subsequent operation just a day later, Turkish forces arrested another 357 people suspected of links to the group.
Government Vows Firm Response to Threats
Commenting on the ongoing crackdown, Interior Minister Yerlikaya sent a strong message to those threatening national stability. As quoted by the AFP news agency, he declared, "Those who seek to harm our brotherhood, our unity, our togetherness ... will only face the might of our state and the unity of our nation."
The series of operations underscores Turkey's continued and vigorous efforts to dismantle the infrastructure of the Islamic State within its borders. The country has been a frequent target for the militant group and remains a key player in regional counter-terrorism efforts.
