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Turkey foils IS-led holiday attacks with mass arrests
Turkish police detained 115 suspected Islamic State members in nationwide raids, disrupting planned assaults on Christmas and New Year celebrations, authorities announced Thursday.
Scope of the operation
Security forces targeted 124 locations across Istanbul, seizing firearms, ammunition, and documents linked to the militant group, according to the city's chief prosecutor. Officials stated the suspects were coordinating with IS operatives abroad.
Targets and ongoing efforts
Intelligence indicated the group intended to strike non-Muslim communities during the holiday period. While 115 individuals were apprehended, authorities continue searching for 22 additional suspects.
Broader counterterrorism context
Turkey's security services maintain frequent operations against IS networks, given the country's 900-kilometer (560-mile) border with Syria, where remnants of the group remain active. Earlier this week, Turkish agents conducted a cross-border raid in Afghanistan-Pakistan, detaining a senior IS figure accused of plotting civilian attacks.
Regional and international response
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, an ally of Ankara, pledged cooperation with Western nations to eliminate IS holdouts. The announcement follows U.S. airstrikes in Syria on Friday, retaliation for an IS ambush that killed two American soldiers and a civilian interpreter earlier this month.
Official statements
"The suspects were actively preparing attacks targeting this week's celebrations."
Turkish Prosecutor's Office
