Abu Hussein al-Qurashi

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced the arrest of 216 suspects in coordinated operations across 45 provinces targeting ISIL operatives.

The large-scale security operation, which included the major cities of Ankara, Istanbul and İzmir, was conducted with the assistance of chief public prosecutor's offices and law enforcement, Yerlikaya said in an X post on Oct. 28.

Turkish security forces have detained 88 suspects linked to the ISIL in coordinated operations across the country, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said in a written statement on Sept. 20.

The raids spanned 23 of the country's 81 provinces, including the capital Ankara, Istanbul and Antalya.

Turkish counter-terrorism units have apprehended a relative of former ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in the central province of Kırşehir.

The security forces initiated the operation, acting on intelligence that a relative of al-Baghdadi, who has been engaged in terrorist activities on behalf of the organization, was in Kırşehir.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkish intelligence forces killed Islamic State leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi in Syria.

"This individual was neutralized as part of an operation by the Turkish national intelligence organization in Syria yesterday," Erdogan said in an interview with TRT Turk broadcaster.