ISTANBUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Nine people, including three police officers and six suspected Islamic State (IS) members, were killed and nine others wounded during an operation targeting IS members in the northwestern Turkish province of Yalova on Monday, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Yerlikaya said simultaneous operations were carried out at 108 separate addresses across 15 provinces as part of a nationwide crackdown against IS over the night.
Yerlikaya said the Yalova raid was launched at around 2 a.m. local time (2300 GMT on Sunday), when police targeted a residence believed to be used by IS suspects. The suspects opened fire on security forces, killing three police officers, while eight others and one night watchman were wounded, he added.
Noting that women and children were present in the house, Yerlikaya said the operation was conducted with "extreme caution." Five women and six children were safely evacuated from the residence.
"Six suspected IS militants, all of whom were Turkish nationals, were killed in the ensuing clash," he added.
The interior minister said the operation was concluded at 9:40 a.m. local time (0640 GMT).
Following the operation, an investigation was launched by the Yalova Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. In a statement posted on social media platform X, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said that five public prosecutors had been assigned to the case and that five suspects had been detained.
Türkiye has intensified operations against IS in recent weeks, as intelligence assessments have warned of heightened security threats during the New Year holiday period. Enditem
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