Turkish security forces nab 5 so-called senior Daesh/ISIS terrorists

ANKARA

Turkish forces have captured five so-called senior members of the Daesh/ISIS terror group in northern Syria, the Turkish authorities announced on Wednesday.

Caught on Aug. 31 in the district of Jarablus as they attempted to cross the border, the terrorists included Daesh/ISIS’ so-called judicial, intelligence, social media, and training chiefs, according to a statement by the Interior Ministry.

In response to questioning by Turkish authorities, the so-called judicial head, Ramo Muhammed al Hamed, codenamed Rami Remo, told authorities that the group was preparing to launch an attack in Türkiye, the statement said.

It added that the group had been released by another terrorist organization, the PKK/YPG, on condition that they go to Jarablus, which was liberated in a Turkish anti-terror operation in 2016.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU – has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is PKK’s Syrian offshoot.​​​​​​​

Since 2016, Ankara has launched a trio of successful anti-terror operations across its border in northern Syria to prevent the formation of a terror corridor and enable the peaceful settlement of residents: Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018) and Peace Spring (2019).

The ministry also stated that six accomplices were also detained, along with an AK-47 rifle, and ammunition.

In 2013, Türkiye became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terrorist group.

The country has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed assaults.

In response, Türkiye launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks.

* Writing by Sevilay Beki in Istanbul