Thirty suspected Islamic State supporters arrested in Turkey
In a significant counterterrorism effort, Turkish security forces have detained 153 suspects linked to the terrorist organization Islamic State (IS) across 28 provinces in a two-week operation. The operations, which are ongoing, include operations in 14 provinces as part of a broader effort to disrupt IS networks and prevent attacks.
Confirming the detentions, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the suspects are accused of IS membership, financing charities tied to IS, and disseminating terrorist propaganda via social media. The detained suspects are believed to have been involved in funding activities for the IS and associated organizations, and promoting actions of the IS.
The operations against the IS in various parts of Turkey were first initiated in 2013, when Turkey designated IS as a terrorist organization. Prior to this large operation, smaller raids, such as one in Istanbul on July 13, resulted in detaining additional suspects involved in IS activities and managing the group’s social media.
Images of the detention of the suspects involved in the operations against the IS in Turkey can be found in the gallery above. Minister Yerlikaya confirmed the detention of 26 suspects for terrorism in a message posted on his social media account.
The Turkish government continues to actively disrupt IS networks domestically and abroad to prevent attacks and dismantle IS logistics and propaganda channels. The operations against the IS in Turkey are being conducted by the Turkish security forces, with the aim of maintaining the country's security and stability.
- As the Turkish government works tirelessly to dismantle IS networks and prevent attacks, general news outlets are reporting that politics in the world arena are heavily weighted towards discussions on war-and-conflicts, with Turkey being a significant player in this domain.
- In addition to the counterterrorism efforts against IS, crime-and-justice issues are also on the radar of the Turkish authorities, with ongoing operations targeting suspects accused of financing charities associated with IS and disseminating terrorist propaganda via social media.
