Nine killed in clash with ISIS in Turkey

In a dramatic escalation of counter-terrorism operations in northwestern Turkey, nine people—including three police officers—were killed on Monday during a gunfight with suspected Islamic State (IS) militants, the country’s Interior Minister confirmed. The incident occurred just a week after Turkish authorities arrested more than 100 suspected IS members accused of plotting attacks around Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the confrontation took place in a residential property in Yalova, a town south of Istanbul along the Marmara Sea. The operation involved eight police officers and one additional security personnel, all of whom sustained injuries during the raid. Authorities also reported simultaneous early-morning operations across over 100 locations nationwide.

“The suspects neutralised in Yalova were all Turkish nationals,” Yerlikaya told reporters. “From the property, five women and six children were rescued unharmed.”

The gunfight reflects Turkey’s intensified efforts to dismantle IS networks, as the extremist group attempts to reassert its global presence. Turkish operations follow international developments, including U.S. airstrikes targeting IS positions in northwestern Nigeria and retaliatory strikes in Syria after an attack on American troops on 19 December. Earlier this month, Australian police reported that two gunmen who opened fire at a Hanukkah event in Bondi Beach, Sydney, were inspired by IS ideology.

According to on-site Reuters photographers, sporadic gunfire continued for nearly eight hours as police secured the Yalova property, believed to be a hideout for armed militants. Last week, Turkish authorities detained 115 suspected IS members allegedly planning attacks during the holiday season.

Over the past month, Turkish police have arrested a total of 138 IS suspects, carrying out coordinated raids in 15 provinces across 108 different locations on Monday morning alone. The government has emphasised that its security operations are part of a broader, ongoing strategy to prevent domestic terrorism and dismantle militant networks operating in the country.

Summary of Monday’s Yalova Operation:

The latest events underline the persistent threat posed by IS in Turkey and the region, prompting heightened vigilance and swift action from law enforcement authorities.