Turkey Arrests 119 Suspected of Links to ISIS

Turkish authorities arrested 119 individuals on July 18, 2026, in a coordinated security operation targeting members of the Islamic State (Daesh), according to reporting by H24info. The arrests are part of a broader effort by Turkish security forces to dismantle militant cells operating within the country.

The operation targeted suspects linked to the extremist group across multiple locations. While the specific cities were not detailed in the initial report, the scale of the arrests indicates a wide-reaching crackdown on the group’s infrastructure in Turkey.

Turkish security agencies frequently conduct these raids to prevent terrorist attacks and disrupt the recruitment and financing networks of Daesh. The 119 detainees are currently being processed by the judicial system to determine their specific roles within the organization.

Turkey remains a critical geography for monitoring Daesh activity due to its borders with Syria and Iraq, where the group previously established a territorial caliphate. Turkish intelligence and police services maintain a high state of alert to prevent the group from utilizing Turkish soil as a transit point or a base for regional operations.

The timing of these arrests aligns with ongoing Turkish military and intelligence efforts to stabilize border regions and neutralize sleeper cells. Security officials have consistently stated that the disruption of these networks is essential for national security and the prevention of urban terrorism.