Turkey detains 304 people over suspected Islamic State ties

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Friday that Turkish officials had apprehended 304 persons accused of having ties to the extremist group Islamic State in operations across 32 regions.

The majority of the suspects were apprehended in Turkey’s three largest cities, Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir, according to Yerlikaya on social messaging site X. He stated that “Operation Heroes-34” was conducted out around the country at the same time.

“We will not allow any terrorists to open their eyes, for the peace and unity of our people. We will continue our battle with the intense efforts of our security forces,” he said, sharing footage of the operations which showed police entering apartments and buildings and dragging suspects into vehicles.

At its peak in 2014, the Islamic State controlled one-third of Iraq and Syria. Despite being defeated, it continues to launch rebel attacks.

It has carried out multiple assaults around Turkey, including one on a nightclub in Istanbul on January 1, 2017, which killed 39 people.

Authorities have increased operations against Islamic State and Kurdish militants in recent weeks, including the Oct. 1 bombing near government facilities in Ankara by Kurdish militants.

Turkey regularly undertakes operations against the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist outfit, both at home and in northern Iraq.