Turkish police seized firearms and arrested 115 suspects linked to the Islamic State in over 120 raids across Istanbul, as part of a crackdown on planned attacks targeting non‑Islamic religious communities.
Turkey: 115 Arrests in Istanbul Raids
Turkish police conducted over 120 raids in Istanbul, detaining 115 of 137 wanted suspects suspected of ties to the Islamic State. The arrests were part of a broader operation aimed at thwarting planned attacks.
Targeting Non‑Islamic Religious Communities
Investigations reveal the suspects intended to carry out bombings against adherents of religions other than Islam. No further details of the planned attacks have been released.
Syria: ISIS Commander Taha al‑Zoubi Arrested
Syrian security forces, with the US‑led international coalition, arrested Taha al‑Zoubi—also known as Abu Omar Tabiya— the ISIS commander in Damascus. Several other individuals linked to terrorist activities were also detained.
US Retaliatory Strikes in Syria, 20 December
On 20 December, the United States carried out retaliatory airstrikes in Syria, killing five ISIS members. The attacks followed an ISIS‑linked assault on 13 December that saw two US soldiers and a civilian employee shot in Palmyra.