Additional Coverage:
Clashes in Northwest Turkey Leave Nine Dead, Several Wounded in Anti-ISIS Operation
Yalova, Turkey – A pre-dawn raid on an alleged Islamic State (ISIS) hideout in northwest Turkey escalated into a deadly confrontation on Monday, resulting in the deaths of three police officers and six militants. The operation, which also left eight additional police officers and a night guard wounded, was part of a larger, coordinated effort by Turkish security forces to target ISIS suspects across the nation.
The incident unfolded in the Elmali district of Yalova province, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house believed to be harboring the militants. Reinforcements from neighboring Bursa province’s special forces were called in to assist with the operation.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed that the Yalova raid was one of over a hundred simultaneous operations conducted against ISIS suspects in 15 provinces. Minister Yerlikaya highlighted the careful execution of the Yalova operation due to the presence of women and children within the house.
He reported that all five women and six children were safely evacuated. All of the deceased militants were identified as Turkish nationals.
The operation commenced around 2 a.m. local time and concluded officially at 9:40 a.m. As the confrontation extended into the streets, five local schools were closed for the day as a precautionary measure, according to private news channel NTV. Authorities also temporarily cut off natural gas and electricity supplies to the area and restricted civilian and vehicle access to the neighborhood.
This recent action follows a series of extensive raids last week, which led to the detention of 115 alleged ISIS militants. These individuals were reportedly planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, with officials indicating that the group had called for actions, particularly against non-Muslims, during these festive periods.
ISIS has been responsible for several deadly attacks in Turkey in recent years, including a tragic shooting at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year celebrations on January 1, 2017, which claimed 39 lives.