According to official statements released on Sunday, Turkish security forces executed a precision counterterrorism operation in Yalova province, which resulted in the death of six Daesh (ISIS) militants. The operation shows Turkey’s commitment to regional counterterrorism operations and demonstrates its ongoing fight against terrorist organizations within its territory.
What happened in the Yalova counterterrorism operation?
The Turkish authorities stated that the operation targeted a cell which they believed was organizing attacks in the Marmara region. The Turkish Gendarmerie and National Intelligence Organization (MIT) special operations units conducted the raid after receiving actionable intelligence.
Officials confirmed that all six militants identified during the operation were killed in the raid. The security officials reported that the operation stopped planned assaults against civilian areas and vital targets, while taking control of weapons, explosives, and communication devices.
A Ministry of Interior spokesperson explained the operation demonstrates Turkey’s dedication to combating terrorism and safeguarding its citizens. The spokesperson added that Turkey will maintain its firm stance against Daesh networks through its ongoing actions..
Why has Türkiye focused on Yalova?
The province of Yalova has never experienced the same level of conflict as the southeastern provinces, but terrorist groups have established recruitment and logistics operations in this area because it lacks strong surveillance systems.
The analysts report that Daesh operatives choose to relocate to provinces with reduced surveillance because they need to stay hidden while maintaining contact with their Syrian, and Iraqi, regional affiliates. The Yalova operation shows Turkey’s new approach to fight terrorism by attacking terrorist cells before they can act, and fits into a broader trend of intelligence-based operations.
How has Türkiye fought Daesh in the past?
Daesh gained power in Syria and Iraq starting in 2014, which led Turkey to start its fight against the terrorist organization. Operation Euphrates Shield (2016–2017) marked one of Turkey’s initial major military campaigns to free northern Syrian towns such as Jarablus and al-Bab from Daesh control while establishing border security from Daesh threats.
Operation Peace Spring (2019) launched an important military campaign which defeated Daesh units in northeastern Syria. It directed its main assault against Kurdish militias.
Between 2015 and 2019, Turkey launched several urban operations in Istanbul and Ankara, which resulted in the detention of numerous ISIS suspects, who intended to carry out attacks inside the country. Between 2018 and 2021, security forces conducted counterterrorism operations in Kilis and Gaziantep, which focused on foreign fighters who returned from Syria through sleeper cell dismantling and prevention of coordinated attacks.
The operations demonstrate Turkey’s dual border security approach, which protects its borders. It uses intelligence operations to eliminate domestic threats.
The Yalova operation demonstrates that Turkey continues to search for emerging terrorist threats even though ISIS has lost ground in Syria and Iraq. The experts believe Daesh operates through secret activities because they lost their territorial control, so domestic counterterrorism intelligence systems must now serve as essential instruments.
Turkey’s proactive operations demonstrate its leadership in regional counterterrorism through its emphasis on alliance-based foreign fighter tracking, communication monitoring, and network disruption.
Turkey bases its counterterrorism strategy on border security to stop Daesh operatives from entering the country through its Syrian and Iraqi borders. The Turkish government places great importance on sharing intelligence with NATO, the United States, and its regional partners to exchange information about terrorist movements.
The prosecution of domestic and foreign militants has become more effective because of recent legal system improvements. Furthermore, Turkey has adopted a new approach by conducting intelligence-based preemptive strikes in Yalova. This shows their strategy now focuses on stopping threats before they materialize.
