Istanbul police have launched scores of simultaneous raids and detained more than 100 suspected self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) group members who were allegedly planning attacks on Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
The Istanbul chief public prosecutor’s office said police were tipped off that the extremist group had called for action — particularly against non-Muslims — during the celebrations.
The office issued warrants for 137 suspects, of whom 115 were detained. Officers also seized many firearms, cartridges and documents during the raids. It said 124 locations were raided.
The arrests come days after the Trump administration launched widespread military strikes in neighbouring Syria to “eliminate” IS group fighters and weapons’ sites.
The strikes were in retaliation for an ambush blamed on the group that allegedly killed two United States troops and an American civilian interpreter.
In a recent development, Syrian security forces have intensified their efforts against the Islamic State (IS) group, executing targeted operations in the vicinity of Damascus, the nation’s capital. These activities are part of a broader strategy to dismantle the remnants of the organization that once posed a significant threat in the region.
In those raids, Syrian officials said Taha al-Zoubi, identified as the IS leader in the Damascus area, was captured and Mohammed Shahadeh, a senior IS commander in Syria, was killed.
Top Turkish officials visited Syria earlier this week to discuss counterterrorism efforts against the IS group, among other issues.
At its zenith in 2015, the IS group had carved out an alarming expanse of control, spanning across parts of Iraq and Syria. This territory was alarmingly substantial, covering an area approximately half the size of the United Kingdom. The group’s dominance during that period marked a challenging chapter for both countries as they grappled with the insurgency’s expansive reach.
It was notorious for its brutality against religious minorities as well as Muslims who do not follow the militants’ extreme interpretation of Islam.
After years of fighting, the US-led coalition broke the group’s last hold on territory in late 2019, but its cells in multiple countries continue to carry out periodic attacks.
— Reporting by Associated Press via Australian Associated Press
