Turkey Detains 115 IS Suspects in Istanbul Over Planned Holiday Attacks

Turkish authorities detained 115 suspected Islamic State members in coordinated raids across Istanbul after intelligence suggested planned attacks during Christmas and New Year celebrations, as part of ongoing efforts to counter extremist threats at home and abroad.

Turkish authorities said on Thursday that they had detained 115 suspected members of the so-called Islamic State (IS) group in a large-scale counterterrorism operation carried out in Istanbul, according to a statement from the city’s chief prosecutor’s office.
Police said intelligence gathered by security agencies indicated that members of the group were actively planning attacks in Turkey during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the information was shared in an official statement posted on X, underscoring concerns about potential threats targeting crowded public events and celebrations.
According to the statement, special counterterrorism police units conducted simultaneous raids at 124 separate locations across Istanbul. During the coordinated operation, officers detained 115 of the 137 suspects who had been identified as part of the investigation. Authorities said efforts were continuing to locate and arrest the remaining suspects.
Several pistols, along with ammunition and other materials, were seized during the raids. The prosecutor’s office noted that the counterterrorism operation was still ongoing, suggesting that further arrests or discoveries could follow as investigations continue.
Turkey, which shares a border of more than 900 kilometers, or about 560 miles, with Syria, has repeatedly pledged to maintain strong security measures and continue supporting regional efforts to combat extremist groups, including Islamic State. Turkish officials say the long and porous border presents ongoing security challenges, particularly given continued instability in parts of Syria.
Ankara has been a key supporter of Syria’s interim government since the overthrow of former president Bashar Assad last year. Turkish authorities have stressed their backing for political transition efforts in Damascus and their commitment to preventing extremist groups from exploiting the power vacuum created by years of conflict.
Syria’s interim leader, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who previously had links to al-Qaida, has pledged to distance himself from extremist organizations as part of a broader effort to build national unity and restore stability in the war-torn country.
Although Islamic State has lost much of the territory and influence it once held in Syria and Iraq, the group remains active as a loosely connected network rather than a centralized organization controlling cities and large areas. Security officials say this decentralized structure makes the group harder to dismantle completely.
Earlier this week, Turkey’s intelligence agency announced that it had carried out a separate operation along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, resulting in the arrest of a Turkish national. According to the agency, the suspect held a senior role within the Islamic State group, highlighting the transnational nature of the organization and Turkey’s broader counterterrorism efforts beyond its borders.