Turkish authorities detained 209 people in a broad raid in Ankara after issuing 241 detention orders; 56 detainees are accused of links to ISIS and 35 are alleged members of the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front. The operation came roughly two weeks before a NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8. Officials say the arrests highlight ongoing ISIS activity in the region despite international counterterrorism campaigns, including U.S. strikes in Africa that killed a senior ISIS leader in May.
Turkey Detains 209 Suspects in Major Ankara Raid — 56 Alleged ISIS Members Held Ahead of NATO Summit
President Donald Trump greets Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on Oct. 13, 2025, to support ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza after a breakthrough ceasefire deal.(AP Newsroom)
Turkish authorities detained 209 people in a large-scale operation in Ankara on Tuesday, officials said, after prosecutors issued 241 detention orders. Authorities say 56 of those taken into custody are alleged members of the Islamic State (ISIS); another 35 suspects are accused of belonging to the Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front, a far-left militant group that Turkish prosecutors say has carried out armed attacks and assassinations.
The raids came as Turkey prepared to host a NATO leaders' summit in Ankara on July 7-8, which U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to attend. Officials described the sweep as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts ahead of a high-profile international gathering.
Details Of The Operation
Prosecutors issued detention orders for 241 suspects, and law enforcement officers executed those orders across multiple locations in the capital, detaining 209 individuals, a statement from the office of Turkey's chief prosecutor said and was reported by The Associated Press. Turkish officials said the arrests follow a December operation in which 125 people suspected of links to ISIS were detained.
Iraqi government forces celebrate while holding an Islamis Sate (IS) group flag after they claimed they have gained complete control of the Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, on January 26, 2015 near the town of Muqdadiyah.
Regional Context
Analysts and officials say the arrests underscore that ISIS remains active in parts of the region despite sustained military pressure and the loss of the group's territorial caliphate in the Middle East during recent years. In particular, ISIS has expanded its footprint in parts of Africa, prompting targeted U.S. counterterrorism strikes.
On May 16, a U.S. strike killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, whom U.S. officials described as ISIS's global second-in-command. After the strike, President Trump wrote on Truth Social that intelligence sources had located al-Minuki in Africa and that he would no longer be able to plan attacks on Americans.
Officials have also warned of propaganda calls from ISIS urging supporters to carry out attacks tied to major international events, including the World Cup, heightening vigilance around high-profile gatherings.
Note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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