On September 12, 2025, Turkish authorities announced a sweeping crackdown on the Islamic State group (ISIS), culminating in the arrest of 161 suspects across the nation. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the scale of the operation in a post on X, stating that those detained were not only active within the terrorist organization but were also responsible for providing financial support to its activities. This coordinated action, spanning 38 of Turkey’s 81 provinces and including major cities such as Ankara and Istanbul, marks one of the largest anti-ISIS efforts in recent years.
According to Caliber.Az, Minister Yerlikaya emphasized the breadth and depth of the operation, noting, "Suspects were operating within the framework of the terrorist organisation ISIS and were responsible for its funding." The raids led to the seizure of a significant cache of unregistered pistols, hunting rifles, organizational documents, and digital materials—evidence, officials say, of ongoing ISIS activity inside Turkey.
Yerlikaya’s statement on X was blunt: "161 DEAŞ Terör Örgütü Üyesi Şüpheli yakalandı," which translates to, "161 suspected members of the ISIS terrorist organization have been arrested." He further detailed, "We apprehended 161 suspects who were active within the ISIS terrorist organization and who provided financial support to the group during simultaneous operations over the past week." The operation’s scale and the number of provinces involved underscore the persistent threat the group poses, even years after its territorial defeat in neighboring Syria and Iraq.
The suspects were reportedly detained in a coordinated series of raids that swept through both urban centers and more rural provinces. According to reporting by the Associated Press and other outlets, the police actions extended from Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city, to the capital Ankara, and into dozens of other provinces—demonstrating the group’s reach and the Turkish government’s determination to disrupt its network.
Authorities revealed that the individuals arrested were not mere foot soldiers but played integral roles within ISIS, with many directly involved in financing the organization. Financial support has been a lifeline for ISIS, enabling it to sustain recruitment, propaganda, and clandestine operations despite losing control of vast swaths of territory in Syria and Iraq by 2017. The raids uncovered not only weapons but also digital materials and organizational documents, which Turkish officials hope will yield further intelligence about ISIS’s operations within and beyond Turkey’s borders.
Turkey’s relationship with ISIS has been complex and fraught with danger. Since 2013, the country has suffered a series of deadly attacks attributed to the group, including the horrific double bombing at a political rally in 2015. That attack, the deadliest in Turkey’s modern history, killed more than 100 people and left the nation reeling. The memory of that tragedy, and a string of subsequent attacks, has kept Turkish security forces on high alert.
In response to the growing threat, Turkey joined the international coalition against ISIS in 2016 and launched major military operations, such as Operation Euphrates Shield, aimed at dismantling ISIS strongholds in northern Syria. These efforts have not only targeted the group’s fighters but have also sought to disrupt its logistical and financial networks. Despite ISIS’s territorial defeat in 2017, the group has continued to operate through insurgency tactics, recruitment drives, and clandestine financing—often using Turkey as both a target and a transit hub for foreign fighters.
Turkey’s role as a frontline state in the fight against ISIS is reflected in its ongoing security operations. Since 2011, Turkish authorities have deported more than 9,000 foreign terrorist fighters from 102 countries, according to Caliber.Az. The country’s security forces have also captured key ISIS figures and, in 2022 alone, neutralized 1,220 terrorists—including 19 suspected suicide bombers. These statistics highlight both the scale of the threat and the intensity of Turkey’s response.
Friday’s announcement by Interior Minister Yerlikaya is the latest in a series of high-profile actions against ISIS. The minister’s post on X, which included details of the arrests and seizures, was widely shared and quickly picked up by Turkish and international media. The message was clear: Turkey remains vigilant and proactive in its efforts to disrupt terrorist networks and prevent further attacks on its soil.
Officials have underscored the importance of these operations not just for Turkey’s own security but for the broader region. The country’s geographic position—straddling Europe and Asia, and bordering both Syria and Iraq—has made it a critical player in the global fight against ISIS. Over the past decade, Turkey has faced the dual challenge of preventing attacks within its own borders while also acting as a bulwark against the movement of foreign fighters and extremist finances.
Despite the successes, Turkish authorities acknowledge that the threat from ISIS is far from over. The group, though territorially defeated, has proven resilient, shifting tactics from conventional warfare to guerrilla-style attacks, online recruitment, and fundraising through illicit means. As Minister Yerlikaya’s statement makes clear, the government is committed to ongoing vigilance: "We will continue our fight against all terrorist organizations with determination and without compromise."
The recent arrests have also sparked discussion about Turkey’s broader counter-terrorism strategy. Some analysts argue that while large-scale operations are necessary, they must be complemented by efforts to counter radicalization and disrupt online propaganda. Others highlight the importance of international cooperation, particularly in tracking the movement of foreign fighters and cutting off funding streams.
Turkey’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by its allies. The country’s participation in the international coalition against ISIS has been praised, though it has also faced criticism over border security and alleged lapses in preventing the flow of foreign fighters in the early years of the Syrian conflict. In recent years, however, Turkish authorities have stepped up their actions, introducing stricter border controls, ramping up intelligence-sharing with partners, and launching frequent raids against suspected ISIS cells.
For many Turks, the memory of past attacks remains fresh. The 2015 double bombing at a political rally, which killed more than 100 people, is a grim reminder of the devastation ISIS can inflict. The government’s ongoing operations are seen by many as both a necessary precaution and a signal of Turkey’s resolve to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
As the investigation into the 161 suspects continues, Turkish authorities are expected to pursue further leads, analyze the seized digital materials, and work with international partners to map out the group’s remaining networks. The arrests serve as a stark reminder that, even eight years after ISIS’s territorial defeat, the fight against terrorism remains a central challenge for Turkey and its neighbors.
With the latest operation, Turkey has once again demonstrated its willingness to confront ISIS head-on, using a combination of intelligence, law enforcement, and military action. The coming weeks will likely reveal more about the group’s activities within Turkey and the extent of its ongoing threat. For now, the country’s security forces remain on high alert, determined to keep the specter of ISIS at bay.
