29 ISIL members caught in joint op by intel, police

In a joint operation conducted by the National Intelligence Organization (MİT) and the police, 29 suspects, who were preparing to attack synagogues and churches, as well as the Iraqi Embassy in Türkiye, have been captured.

"29 people were caught in the 'Heroes-37' Operation centered in Istanbul and carried out in nine other provinces against the ISIL terrorist organization. Our fight against terrorist organizations and their collaborators will continue with determination," Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on X on Dec. 29. 

In the "Heros-37" Operations organized simultaneously across 39 addresses in Ankara, Balıkesir, Bolu, Düzce, Kırşehir, Konya, Sakarya, Samsun and Istanbul; upon identifying the members of the "Salman-i Farisi Battalion" organization linked to ISIL that is attempting to be created in Türkiye, and understanding that they are conducting reconnaissance activities against Jewish and Christian places of worship in Istanbul; 29 people were arrested.

"I congratulate our MİT members and police officers who organized the operations. For the peace, unity and solidarity of our nation, we will not tolerate any terrorists. We will continue our struggle uninterruptedly with the outstanding efforts of our security forces," Yerlikaya said. 

The MİT detected that Mijbel al-Shuveyhi, codenamed "Abu Yakin al-Iraqi," and Mohammed Hilaf Ibrahim Ibrahim, codenamed "Abu Laith," the so-called intelligence officers of the Salman-i Farisi Battalion were preparing attacks against synagogues and churches in Türkiye, while Iyheb Elani, codenamed "Abdullah al-Jumayli," was preparing attacks against the Iraqi Embassy.

Al-Shuveyhi, Ibrahim and Elani, as well as 29 individuals linked to the Salman al-Farisi Battalion, were captured in a...