ANKARA, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities have detained 164 suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group in the past week, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Wednesday.
The minister said on social media platform X that the operation, dubbed "Gurz-44," was carried out across 21 provinces, including Istanbul.
The authorities determined that the suspects were actively involved in IS operations and had provided financial support to the group, the minister said.
Yerlikaya said security forces seized unlicensed firearms, including pistols and rifles, and a significant amount of digital materials during the raids.
"Our social solidarity and shared values are among the most effective defense mechanisms against the spread of terrorism. We are determined to eliminate terrorism from our country through a collective struggle," he said.
Türkiye designated IS a terrorist organization in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country. Ankara has conducted counter-terrorism operations domestically and abroad to crack down on its members and activities. ■