WEB DESK: Islamic State militants engaged in a deadly confrontation with police in northwest Turkey on Monday, resulting in the deaths of three police officers and six militants, according to Turkey’s Interior Minister. The clash also left at least eight other police officers and a night guard injured.
The violence unfolded in the Elmali district of Yalova province, located south of Istanbul, during a police operation targeting a house where the militants were hiding. Special forces from the neighboring Bursa province were called in to support the mission.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya revealed that this operation was part of a broader series of more than 100 coordinated raids across 15 provinces targeting IS suspects.
Yerlikaya emphasized that the action in Yalova was conducted with special caution due to the presence of women and children inside the house. All five women and six children were safely removed from the location without harm.
The minister confirmed that all the militants involved were Turkish nationals. The operation commenced at approximately 2 a.m. local time and concluded by 9:40 a.m., he added.
In parallel, the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation, assigning five prosecutors to oversee the proceedings, as announced by Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc on social media platform X. Additionally, five individuals were taken into custody in connection with the operation, though no further details about the suspects have been disclosed.
President Tayyab Erdogan extended his condolences to the families of the fallen officers, reiterating Turkey’s commitment to combat extremism. He assured the nation that efforts to dismantle such groups would continue relentlessly both within and beyond Turkey’s borders.
“We will maintain our resolute and uncompromising fight against those who threaten our nation’s tranquility and state security,” Erdogan declared in a statement shared on X.
The clashes spilled over into nearby streets, prompting authorities to close five schools in the area for safety reasons, as reported by private news channel NTV. Additionally, natural gas and electricity supplies were temporarily cut off, while civilians and vehicles were restricted from entering the neighborhood as a precautionary measure.
This incident follows a series of recent operations targeting extremist elements. Last week, Turkish police conducted extensive raids, detaining 115 alleged IS militants accused of planning attacks around Christmas and New Year celebrations. Reports suggested that IS had specifically called for actions against non-Muslims during this period.
Turkey has faced significant threats from IS in recent years, including a high-profile attack on an Istanbul nightclub during New Year celebrations on January 1, 2017, which left 39 people dead.
