Turkey arrests senior Daesh/ISIS operative

DENIZLI, Turkey

A senior operative of Daesh/ISIS terrorist group from Syria was arrested on Monday in Turkey’s west, according to security sources.

The arrest came after an operation against terrorist group Daesh, also known as ISIS, in Denizli province, said the source, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The suspect, a Syrian national, had entered Turkey through illegal means and was plotting a terror attack in the province.

The suspect, known only by the initials D.E.H., was so-called intelligence officer of Daesh in Syria’s al-Hasakah. One more foreign national was also arrested in the operation.

Since recognizing Daesh as a terrorist group in 2013, Turkey has been attacked by Daesh/ISIS terrorists numerous times, including 10 suicide bombings, seven bombings, and four armed attacks which killed 315 people and injured hundreds.

In response to these attacks, Turkey launched anti-terror operations at home and abroad, neutralizing 3,500 Daesh terrorists and arresting 5,500.

*Writing by Burak Bir