Turkish security forces killed six Islamic State militants and lost three police officers during a prolonged gun battle in the northwestern town of Yalova on Monday, authorities said, showing Ankara’s intensified campaign against the extremist group ahead of the year end holiday period.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said the clash erupted during a counterterrorism raid on a suspected militant hideout near the Sea of Marmara, south of Istanbul. The operation came just days after police detained more than 100 suspected Islamic State members accused of plotting attacks around Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The deaths highlight renewed security pressure in Turkey as officials warn of heightened risks from extremist networks, even as large scale attacks have remained rare in recent years.
Yerlikaya told reporters that eight police officers and one additional security personnel were wounded during the raid, which stretched for nearly eight hours. A Reuters photographer at the scene reported intermittent gunfire as security forces surrounded the property from the early morning hours.
Police entered the house on intelligence that militants were hiding there overnight, Yerlikaya said. Six suspects were killed during the exchange of fire, while five women and six children were safely removed from the building.
He added that all of the militants killed were Turkish citizens.
Authorities said the Yalova raid was part of a broader nationwide sweep. On Monday morning, police carried out coordinated operations at 108 addresses across 15 provinces, continuing a crackdown that has led to 138 arrests over the past month.
The Interior Ministry said last week that 115 suspected Islamic State members had been detained on December 19, accused of planning attacks targeting holiday gatherings. The Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office said the plots were aimed particularly at non Muslim communities.
Turkey has expanded its security operations this year as Islamic State activity has drawn global attention again. Last week, the United States said it carried out a strike against militants in northwest Nigeria. Earlier this month, Australian police said two attackers at a Hanukkah event in Sydney appeared to be inspired by Islamic State ideology.
In Syria, the U.S. military said it launched large scale strikes on December 19 against dozens of Islamic State targets following an attack on American personnel.
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Turkey endured a series of deadly Islamic State attacks between 2015 and 2017, including assaults on Istanbul’s main airport and a nightclub on New Year’s Eve that killed dozens of people. During the early years of the Syrian war, the country served as a key transit route for foreign fighters moving in and out of the conflict zone.
Since then, Turkish authorities have carried out frequent counterterror operations, and major attacks have largely subsided. Officials say continued vigilance is needed to prevent a resurgence.
The Interior Ministry said investigations into Monday’s raid were ongoing, and further arrests were possible as security forces follow new leads.
