Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on the “X” platform today (Thursday) that Turkish authorities have detained 72 people suspected of connections to the terrorist group ISIS during operations across 13 provinces. The Turkish security forces continue to conduct extensive campaigns against ISIS cells and members, which have resulted in the arrest of thousands since April, in addition to the deportation of nearly 3,000 individuals and preventing more than 5,000 from entering the country.
The Turkish police have been actively conducting operations against ISIS, resulting in numerous arrests across the country. Recently, the Interior Ministry reported the arrest of 47 individuals connected to an attack on the Santa Maria Church in Istanbul, emphasizing Turkey’s continued crackdown on terrorism. In another significant operation, the Turkish police detained 33 people in Ankara, most of whom were foreign nationals with suspected ties to ISIS.
Additionally, a weeklong series of raids saw over 100 detentions, illustrating Turkey’s robust and ongoing efforts to dismantle ISIS networks within its borders. These operations spanned several provinces, indicating the extensive reach and coordination of Turkey’s anti-terrorism efforts.
This heightened activity follows a period of increased threats from ISIS, including attempts at major attacks in Turkey and other regions, demonstrating the persistent challenge posed by extremist groups despite significant territorial losses in Syria and Iraq.