Turkish police arrested 45 people across the country for suspected ties to the ISIS terrorist group, Turkey's Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Friday.

"We will not tolerate any terrorists," Yerlikaya wrote on X, adding, "We have only one goal; To fight without stopping, with your prayers and support, until the last terrorist is neutralized."

1️⃣6️⃣ ilde DEAŞ Terör Örgütüne yönelik gerçekleştirilen “BOZDOĞAN-48” operasyonlarında 4️⃣5️⃣ şüpheli yakalandı❗

Aziz Milletimizin Bilmesini İsterim ki;
Teröristlerin hiçbirine göz açtırmayacağız. Tek bir hedefimiz var; son terörist etkisiz hale getirilinceye kadar sizlerin duası… pic.twitter.com/GbVNCxvEMY

— Ali Yerlikaya (@AliYerlikaya) July 5, 2024

The minister also shared that the operation was carried out in 16 of the country's 81 provinces, also obtaining a significant amount of money, and ceasing digital data.

The operation was conducted in Istanbul, Antalya, Ankara, and multiple cities throughout the country.

Yerkikaya reported earlier this year that over 3,500 ISIS-linked suspects were arrested in 2024.

Turkey's ISIS operations

Turkey has carried out a number of ISIS operations last year.

In March 2023, the Turkish Police took 147 people in 30 provinces into custody on suspicion of having links to ISIS.

Since June 1, 2023, Turkey has detained nearly 3,000 on suspicion of having links to ISIS. 

Earlier in March this year, Turkish security forces arrested 25 people suspected to be linked to the church terrorist shooting incident that occurred on January 28 in Istanbul, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on February 2. 

Two masked gunmen opened fire during Sunday Mass at the Italian Catholic Church of St. Mary, resulting in the death of Turkish citizen Tuncer Cihan as identified by Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

Among the apprehended individuals are the two suspected shooters believed to be linked to the ISIS terror group, Tunc posted on X. The detainees were reportedly planning attacks on churches, synagogues, and the Iraqi embassy.