Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated today, Friday, that Turkish authorities have arrested 304 individuals suspected of having connections to ISIS during security operations conducted across 32 provinces. Yerlikaya mentioned on the X platform that the majority of arrests took place in the country’s three largest cities: Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. He noted that the security operations were carried out simultaneously throughout the country.
He said, "We will not allow even terrorists to catch their breath in order to maintain peace and unity for our people. We will continue our fight with intensified efforts from our security forces." The minister shared footage of the security operations, showing police breaking into apartments and buildings, pushing suspects into vehicles.
At the height of its power in 2014, ISIS managed to control up to a third of Iraq and Syria. Despite being defeated afterwards, the organization continues to carry out attacks. ISIS has conducted several assaults across Turkey, including an attack on a nightclub in Istanbul on January 1, 2017, which resulted in 39 fatalities.
In recent weeks, Turkish authorities have intensified security operations against ISIS and Kurdish militants, following an incident where Kurdish militants detonated an explosive device near a government building in Ankara on October 1. Turkey regularly conducts operations both domestically and in northern Iraq against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which it classifies as a terrorist organization.
