Turkey inflicts heavy blow on Daesh/ISIS in 2020

MALATYA, Turkey

Turkish security operations against the Daesh terror group, also known as ISIS, in the first four months of 2020 led to the capture of many of the group members, including senior operatives.

So far, a total of 354 Daesh suspects have been arrested and security officials seized many documents, weapons and ammunition of the terror group, thwarting possible terror incidents in large cities including capital Ankara and Istanbul.

Some 76 of the terror group members were sent to prison, others were deported, while the judicial process continues for the remaining people linked to Daesh.

The security officials arrested five foreign nationals preparing for a terror attack in capital Ankara on New Year's eve; four of them were sent to prison.

In Balikesir province, 11 suspects linked to the terror group in Iraq were arrested.

Four women affiliates, including one senior operative, were caught in Hatay province in southern Turkey following their entry to the country from Syria.

Another Daesh affiliate was arrested in northwestern Edirne province, the Kyrgyz national was arrested with prosecutors seeking more than six years of jail time for him.

A Danish national sought by the Interpol, going with initials of Y.A., was caught in southern Turkey following a joint operation of security and intelligence operatives.

In another operation in Kirsehir province, a suspect, who claims to be relative of slain Daesh ringleader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, was arrested. The remaining six suspects were referred to the provincial migration office for deportation.

Another suspect, who confessed he had carried out bombings in Iraq, was arrested in Sakarya province.

A Syrian national, going with the codename of Abu Taki Alshamy, was caught in Bursa province. The terror affiliate was a senior member of the terror group and carried out activities in Syrian provinces such as Deir ez-Zour and Al-Mayadin.

*Writing by Ali Murat Alhas