Turkey Arrests 100 IS Suspects in 24 Provinces
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Synopsis
In a significant operation, Turkish authorities detained 100 suspected Islamic State (IS) members linked to the Daesh terrorist organization across 24 provinces, as announced by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. The suspects were involved in financing and promoting the group's agenda, highlighting ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Turkey.
Key Takeaways
- 100 IS suspects detained across 24 provinces.
- Operations named Gurz-41 and Gurz-42.
- Suspects provided financial support and propaganda.
- 3,600 individuals connected to IS apprehended since June 2023.
- Ongoing counterterrorism efforts continue in Turkey.
Ankara, Jan 28 (NationPress) Turkish authorities have apprehended 100 alleged members of the Islamic State (IS), associated with the Daesh terrorist organization, over the past week, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya on Tuesday.
The operations, referred to as "Gurz-41" and "Gurz-42", took place across 24 provinces, including the capital city Ankara and Istanbul, Turkey's largest metropolis, the minister shared via the social media platform X.
Officials have identified that the suspects were engaged in activities supporting the organization, providing financial assistance to the group and disseminating propaganda for the terrorist organization on social media, the minister reported.
Yerlikaya indicated that police forces seized organizational documents and digital materials during the operations, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
"Through our strategy of eliminating terrorism at its root, we continue our fight resolutely, alongside our police, gendarmerie, and intelligence units," he stated.
Turkish authorities have executed extensive operations targeting Daesh cells, known as Gurz operations, leading to the detention of at least 943 suspects in 2024 alone.
In the aftermath of the disbandment of the self-proclaimed "caliphate" in 2019, certain individuals suspected of connections to Daesh have formed a network in Turkey, identified as the Khorasan Province (Daesh-K). This network is reportedly exploring "new methods" and actively enlisting foreign nationals, as ongoing counterterrorism operations have posed significant challenges, according to sources within the Turkish security apparatus.
The National Intelligence Organization (MIT) has effectively disrupted the terrorist group's recruitment efforts and initiatives to secure funding and logistical support, following a recent operation prompted by a church shooting in Istanbul in January.
Turkish authorities have disclosed that since June 2023, over 3,600 individuals suspected of ties to the terrorist organization have been detained.
Previously, on December 31, Turkish security forces apprehended 536 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) in a nationwide operation that had been ongoing for the preceding 12 days, as reported by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.
The operation, known as GURZ-34, was executed across 57 provinces with coordination from prosecutors, the National Intelligence Organization, and the police's counter-terrorism unit, Yerlikaya noted on the social media platform X.
Turkey classified IS as a terrorist organization in 2013, attributing a series of deadly attacks in the country to its actions. Ankara has conducted counter-terrorism operations both domestically and internationally to combat its members and activities.
