Turkey Detains 125 ISIS Suspects in Nationwide Counterterrorism Sweep

Haitian Prime News | January 1, 2026

By:Christopher Louissaint

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish security forces have detained 125 individuals suspected of links to the Islamic State (ISIS) in a coordinated nationwide counterterrorism operation spanning 25 provinces, authorities announced on Tuesday.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the raids were carried out simultaneously by police and gendarmerie units as part of heightened security measures ahead of the year-end holiday period. The operation targeted suspected ISIS cells believed to be involved in recruitment, financing, logistics, and planning potential attacks.

According to the Interior Ministry, searches were conducted in major urban centers including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Bursa, and Yalova. Authorities reported the seizure of digital devices and organizational materials allegedly connected to ISIS networks.

The sweep follows a series of intensified counterterrorism actions across Turkey in recent weeks, prompted by intelligence warnings of possible attacks targeting crowded public spaces during the holiday season. Officials say the latest arrests are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle extremist infrastructure and prevent violence before it occurs.

Turkey has faced repeated threats from Islamic State over the past decade and has regularly launched large-scale security operations against the group and other militant organizations operating within its borders.

The Interior Ministry stated that investigations into the detained suspects are continuing and that further arrests are possible. Authorities emphasized that counterterrorism operations will remain “relentless and uninterrupted” to ensure public safety nationwide.

— Haitian Prime News