In a violent clash on Monday, nine people—including three police officers—were killed during a gunfight with Islamic State (ISIS) militants in northwestern Turkey, the country’s Interior Minister has confirmed. The deadly confrontation comes just a week after Turkish authorities arrested over 100 suspected ISIS members accused of planning attacks around Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya reported that the incident occurred in a house in Yalova, a town situated south of Istanbul on the coast of the Sea of Marmara. During the operation, eight police officers and one additional security personnel were injured. Simultaneous dawn raids were carried out across more than 100 locations nationwide on Monday.
“The ISIS militants killed in Yalova were all Turkish nationals,” Yerlikaya told reporters. He also confirmed that five women and six children were rescued alive from the targeted house.
Turkish authorities have intensified their counterterrorism operations this year in response to a resurgence of ISIS activity globally. Recent incidents underscore the ongoing threat posed by the group: last week, U.S. forces conducted airstrikes against ISIS targets in northwestern Nigeria, and earlier this month, Australian police reported that two gunmen who opened fire during a Hanukkah event in Sydney’s Bondi Beach were inspired by ISIS ideology. On 19 December, the U.S. military also launched a series of strikes in Syria, targeting more than a dozen ISIS positions in retaliation for attacks against American personnel.
According to a Reuters photographer present at the scene, sporadic gunfire was heard throughout the nearly eight-hour operation in Yalova, during which police maintained a perimeter around the house suspected of harbouring militants.
Turkey’s anti-terror operations have been extensive over recent weeks. Last week alone, 115 suspected ISIS members were detained for plotting attacks on Christmas and New Year celebrations. Over the past month, Turkish police have arrested a total of 138 suspected ISIS operatives and, on Monday morning, conducted coordinated raids across 108 addresses in 15 provinces.
Summary of Monday’s Yalova Operation:
| Location | Fatalities | Injuries | Civilians Rescued | Suspected Militants Arrested | Security Personnel Involved |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yalova, Turkey | 6 ISIS | 9 | 5 women, 6 children | N/A | 9 police/security |
| Nationwide Raids | N/A | N/A | N/A | 138 total in past month | Various |
The latest incidents highlight Turkey’s ongoing battle against a resurgent ISIS threat and the challenges faced by authorities in safeguarding both civilians and security forces from coordinated attacks.