ANKARA

Among nine people Turkish security forces caught trying to illegally cross into Syria and Greece were two terrorist suspects, the country's National Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

"It was determined that one of those captured was a member of Daesh [also known as ISIS] and another one a member of the FETO terrorist organization," the ministry said on Twitter.

"Our struggle against illegal crossings through our borders continues," the statement added.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and 2,734 injured.

Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police, and judiciary.

FETO fugitives have been known to flee to Greece, and Turkey has criticized Athens’ failure to extradite them to face justice.

In 2013, Turkey became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terrorist group.

The country has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed assaults.

In response, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.