Turkey's Ongoing Fight Against Terror: A Recent Clash

In a recent event, Turkish security forces faced a violent confrontation with ISIS militants. This happened during a late-night operation in the village of Elmalik, located in the western Yalova province. The clash resulted in the deaths of three police officers and injuries to eight others. The operation lasted over seven hours and targeted a suspected ISIS hideout. Authorities reported that six ISIS members were killed, and five others were detained. The raid was part of a broader effort to prevent planned attacks during the winter holidays, particularly targeting minority groups. Videos shared on social media captured the intense gunfight and the aftermath, showing smoke rising from the area and emergency vehicles rushing to the scene. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya emphasized that the operation was conducted carefully due to the presence of women and children at the location. All civilians were safely evacuated.During the raid, electricity and natural gas supplies to Elmalik were cut off, and schools in the area were closed for the day. Turkey frequently conducts such counterterrorism operations against ISIS and other groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which the government considers terrorist organizations. The recent raid comes amid heightened security measures, especially around the end-of-year holidays. This is a response to past attacks, such as the 2017 ISIS attack on the Reina nightclub, which killed 39 people. The most recent ISIS attack in Turkey occurred in January 2024, when armed men targeted a church in Istanbul, resulting in one death. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc announced that an investigation into the raid has been launched, with five state prosecutors assigned to the case. Over the past month, 138 terror suspects have been detained, and 97 have been placed under judicial control measures. Turkish security forces continue to carry out coordinated raids across the country to thwart alleged plots linked to Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations.