Photo: Collected

ANKARA, Dec 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Turkish security forces on Tuesday arrested 357 people during operations across the country against the Islamic State group, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.

"During simultaneous operations carried out this morning by our police forces in 21 provinces, we apprehended 357 suspects linked to ISIS," the minister said on X, using another name for the group.

"We have never given the slightest chance to those who try to bring this country to its knees through terrorism."

Three police officers were killed Monday during an operation against the group in Yalova, in northwestern Turkey.

The clash, which lasted several hours, also left six IS members dead, all Turkish nationals.

Last Thursday, the Istanbul prosecutor ordered the arrest of 137 suspected IS members "following intelligence indicating that the ISIS terrorist organization was planning attacks during the Christmas and New Year celebrations".

Turkey shares a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border with Syria, where the jihadist group remains active.