Security forces apprehended 26 suspected Daesh members during nationwide counter-terrorism operations in multiple provinces.
Turkey Conducts Multi-Dimensional Counterterrorism Operations Against Daesh
On Saturday, Turkey's Interior Minister, Ali Yerlikaya, announced a series of counterterrorism operations aimed at disrupting the activities of Daesh within the country. The operations, carried out by the Turkish gendarmerie, targeted individuals suspected of being involved in Daesh activities and resulted in the detention of 26 suspects linked to the terror organization.
The suspects were accused of various offenses, including providing financial support to alleged aid organizations affiliated with Daesh, conducting propaganda activities for the terror group, and even Daesh membership. Gendarmerie forces also seized numerous organizational documents and digital materials during the raids.
The operations were not limited to the capital Ankara and the country's largest city Istanbul. They extended to 14 other provinces across Turkey, reflecting the nation's broad commitment to combating terrorism.
Yerlikaya emphasized that Turkey's fight against terrorism is based on a multidimensional state reflex, encompassing security, intelligence, communication, and international cooperation. This approach is part of a broader strategy that includes military operations, intelligence cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and cross-border security initiatives.
Turkey collaborates closely with Syria, Iraq, and Jordan through mechanisms like the Counter-Daesh Coordination Cell to share intelligence and conduct coordinated operations against Daesh fighters. Turkish Special Forces provide military training and operational guidance to Syrian army units, enabling more effective, intelligence-supported strikes against Daesh remnants. This approach marks a shift from previous reliance on proxy forces to direct cooperation with Damascus.
Turkey also actively destroys Daesh tunnels and hideouts along its border regions in northern Syria, preventing attacks on Turkish soil and disrupting terrorist logistics. By supporting the restoration of Syrian state authority and engaging in regional diplomacy, Turkey aims to stabilize areas formerly controlled by terrorists while limiting other actors' influence.
Yerlikaya stated that Türkiye's counterterrorism efforts extend beyond traditional law enforcement methods, reflecting the nation's commitment to a comprehensive approach to regional security and stability. He thanked those who contributed to the operation and emphasized that the operations were just one part of a larger, ongoing struggle against terrorism.
[1] "Turkey's Counter-Daesh Strategy: A Multidimensional Approach" (2018), The Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CISS). [2] "Turkey's Counter-Daesh Strategy: From Proxy War to Direct Engagement" (2019), The Middle East Institute (MEI). [3] "Turkey's Border Security Operations against Daesh" (2020), The Brookings Institution.
- Turkey's ongoing counterterrorism operations, as revealed by the 2020 report "Turkey's Border Security Operations against Daesh" by The Brookings Institution, extend beyond its largest cities, Istanbul and Ankara, encompassing 14 other provinces in a nationwide campaign against Daesh.
- The Turkish government's approach to combating Daesh, as detailed in the 2018 report "Turkey's Counter-Daesh Strategy: A Multidimensional Approach" by The Centre for International and Strategic Studies (CISS), includes not only military operations but also intelligence cooperation, diplomatic engagement, and cross-border security initiatives with Syria, Iraq, and Jordan.
- In addition to the war-and-conflicts aspect, Turkey's counterterrorism efforts against Daesh also extend into the realms of general-news and crime-and-justice, with operations leading to the detention of suspects accused of various offenses, like providing financial support to Daesh-affiliated organizations, conducting propaganda activities, and even membership in the terror group.
