Turkish security forces have detained 125 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State in coordinated operations carried out across 25 provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Wednesday.
The large-scale raids targeted suspects in major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, along with 22 other provinces. The operations were conducted simultaneously by police and gendarmerie units under the coordination of the Turkish National Police and the Gendarmerie General Command.
“Those who target our brotherhood, unity and solidarity will face only the strength of our state and the unity of our nation,” Yerlikaya said in a post on social media platform X.
Separate arrests over online propaganda
In a parallel development, Istanbul prosecutors announced the detention of 29 individuals accused of promoting IS propaganda on social media platforms. The Istanbul Security Directorate carried out raids at 29 locations starting early Wednesday morning.
Prosecutors said 28 suspects were involved in online propaganda activities, while one individual was allegedly active within the organisation. Digital devices and organisational documents were seized during the searches.
Linked to deadly Yalova clash
Authorities said the investigations are linked to a deadly counter-terror operation in Yalova, where three police officers were killed earlier this week during a prolonged gunfight. Six IS militants were killed in the seven-hour-long clash, while eight police officers and a night watchman were injured. All militants involved were Turkish nationals.
Five women and six children present at the location were safely evacuated, while electricity, gas supplies and school operations in the area were temporarily suspended during the operation.
Heightened security during festive period
The latest detentions follow last week’s raids in which 357 IS suspects were detained across 21 provinces, as part of intensified security measures during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Turkey has faced multiple deadly IS attacks in the past, including the 2015 Ankara peace rally bombing and the 2017 Reina nightclub attack in Istanbul. While IS has lost territorial control in Syria and Iraq, Turkish authorities say its sleeper cells continue to pose a threat, prompting sustained nationwide counter-terror operations.