Türkiye dismantles ISIS cells in major “Gürz-31-32-33” operation 182 detained

A major counter-terrorism operation, codenamed “Gürz-31-32-33,” was carried out across 22 provinces in Türkiye in a coordinated effort to dismantle ISIS cells.

Turkish Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya announced that 182 individuals suspected of links to the ISIS terrorist organization were detained during the three-week operation.

 The operation involved the collaboration of the Turkish Gendarmerie, public prosecutors’ offices, and the Anti-Terrorism Department of the Gendarmerie General Command.

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Minister Yerlikaya provided details of the operation, highlighting that 43 of the suspects were arrested, while 24 were placed under judicial control. Investigations are still ongoing for the remaining detainees, Caliber.Az reports.

22 ilde DEAŞ Terör Örgütüne yönelik son 3 hafta içinde Jandarma tarafından düzenlenen "GÜRZ-31-32-33" operasyonlarında:
⛔182 şüpheli Terör Örgütü Mensubu yakalandı❗

⚠️Şüphelilerden
📍43’ü tutuklandı,
📍24’ü hakkında adli kontrol kararı verildi. Diğerlerinin işlemleri devam… pic.twitter.com/EVLZlUIJCV

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) December 25, 2024

The provinces where the operation took place include Adana, Antalya, Aydın, Burdur, Bursa, Bolu, Denizli, Diyarbakır, Düzce, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kırklareli, Kırıkkale, Kırşehir, Mersin, Istanbul, Izmir, Samsun, Şanlıurfa, Trabzon, and Yozgat.

The detained suspects face serious charges, including membership in a terrorist organization, aiding and abetting terrorism, financing terrorist activities, and spreading terrorist propaganda via social media. During the operation, Turkish authorities seized a significant amount of organizational documents and digital materials, which are currently being analyzed as part of ongoing investigations to gather more intelligence about ISIS operations within the country.

Minister Yerlikaya emphasized that these actions are part of Türkiye’s broader, intensified stance against terrorism, reflecting the country’s commitment to national security and disrupting the activities of terrorist groups like ISIS. He noted that the operations underscore Türkiye’s determination to combat terrorism in all its forms and ensure the safety and security of the public.

This operation comes as part of Türkiye's larger strategy to combat terrorism on multiple fronts, particularly in regions affected by ISIS. Authorities have reassured the public that they will continue their efforts to target terrorist organizations and prevent any threats to national security.

By Tamilla Hasanova