At least 199 ISIL suspects ‘arrested since January’

MALATYA – Anadolu Agency

At least 199 suspected militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) have been arrested in counter-terrorism operations across Turkey since the beginning of 2016, security sources have said on condition of anonymity.

Some 863 suspects have been taken into custody since January, with at least 199 of them subsequently arrested, sources said on May 9.

A large cache of arms and ammunition, as well as documents belonging to ISIL, have also been seized in the operations.

Meanwhile, the total number of ISIL militants killed by Turkey in cross-border operations has reached 1,172, with 807 in Syria and 365 in Iraq, according to the sources.

On the Syrian border alone, 388 ISIL militants had been captured this year, in addition to 82 militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The Turkish military hit 2,144 ISIL positions between May 1 and 5, also shelling ISIL positions in response to rocket attacks targeting Turkey’s southeastern border province of Kilis. Kilis has repeatedly been hit by rockets from ISIL-held territories across the border in northern Syria since mid-January.

The governor of Kilis has said that 20 citizens were killed in these attacks, while some 70 people have been injured.

On May 2, Turkish forces struck ISIL positions and ammunition dumps in the Suran, Arshak, Ikdakh and Ihtimalat regions on the Syrian side of the border, reportedly killing 64 militants.