Turkey's Nationwide Raids Lead to Arrest of 357 Suspected IS Members

Tue Dec 30 2025 15:44:53 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant crackdown, Turkish authorities have detained 357 suspects linked to the Islamic State across 21 provinces as part of coordinated police operations following a recent siege that left three police officers dead.

Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the detention of 357 suspected Islamic State members across 21 provinces in nationwide raids. These operations come after a deadly confrontation in Yalova, where three police officers were killed. The crackdown aims to counter threats posed by IS, especially during the holiday season.

More than 350 suspected Islamic State group (IS) members have been detained as part of nationwide police operations in Turkey.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 357 suspects were apprehended across 21 provinces in coordinated raids on Tuesday morning.

This comes just a day after three police officers and six alleged militants were killed during an eight hour siege in the northwestern town of Yalova. Another eight police officers and a security force member were injured.

Less than a week ago, authorities arrested another 115 suspects who prosecutors said had been planning attacks targeting non-Muslims during Christmas and New Year's.

In a post on X, Yerlikaya said Tuesday's operations took place nationwide, including in Ankara, Istanbul, and Yalova. He asserted, 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 interior minister also shared a video appearing to show dozens of counter-terrorism officers taking part in the operations and detaining several people.

Raids in Istanbul and two other provinces led to the arrest of 110 individuals, with officers seizing documents and digital materials, while local media reported a number of weapons, including knives and bullets.

A statement from the Istanbul chief prosecutor's office stated that intelligence indicated the suspects might attempt an attack on New Year's Day, highlighting the ongoing threats from the group.

Interior Minister Yerlikaya announced that an additional 16 individuals were detained in Yalova for making provocative posts on social media regarding the recent violence. The funerals of the three officers killed in Yalova took place on Tuesday, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressing condolences and vowing continued efforts against those threatening national security.

Turkey's security services consistently target those suspected of having ties to IS, especially considering the nation's significant border with Syria, where the group remains active. In recent developments, the US has also intensified its military actions against IS positions in Syria following the killing of American personnel in a related ambush earlier this month.