Türkiye's National Intelligence Organization (MIT) captured four wanted ISIS terrorists in Syria, including a senior militant who acted as the group's so-called former governor in Türkiye Shahap Varish, Anadolu Agency quoted security sources as saying on Thursday.
The terrorists were nabbed in an operation following extensive work and were handed to security forces, the sources said.
Varish was behind several terrorist attacks planned against Türkiye and foiled by the Turkish security forces.
In April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that intelligence forces killed ISIS leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi in Syria.
The raid took place in the northern Syrian town of Jandaris, which is controlled by Turkish forces and the pro-Ankara Syrian National Army.
Erdogan said the intelligence organization had pursued Qurashi for a long time.
He stressed commitment to “continue our fight against terrorist organizations without discrimination.”
Meanwhile, Istanbul Police Department launched an extensive operation to arrest a group of suspects linked to terrorist organizations ISIS and Al-Qaeda in the conflict zones (Syria and Iraq).
Intelligence and counterterrorism units of Turkish police launched simultaneous raids in 13 locations across Istanbul. Twelve suspects were captured in the raids.
