Turkish authorities arrested 357 individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State in nationwide raids on Tuesday, a day after a shooting incident in northwestern Turkey left three police officers and six militants dead.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that simultaneous operations were conducted across 21 provinces. “Just as we have never allowed those who want to bring this country to its knees through terrorism, we will not allow them in the future,” he said, sharing video footage showing counter-terrorism officers conducting raids and taking multiple suspects into custody.
The arrests follow the detention of over 100 suspected Islamic State fighters last week for allegedly plotting attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations. On Monday, a violent standoff lasting eight hours occurred between police and militants at a house in Yalova Town, south of Istanbul.
Despite intensified counter-ISIS operations this year, the group is reportedly resurging internationally. The United States last week targeted militants in northwestern Nigeria, while Australian police indicated that a shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration involved two suspects reportedly inspired by ISIS.
Heightened terrorism threats have also led to restrictions on New Year celebrations in major cities. Paris canceled a planned concert on the Champs-Élysées, though fireworks continued, while Sydney scrapped its Bondi Beach events following a recent deadly attack. In the United States, the FBI detained suspects in Los Angeles and New Orleans, foiling alleged plots targeting public spaces in Los Angeles and Orange County.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also warned of external attempts to destabilize the region, highlighting the ongoing security challenges facing the country.
