Turkey: Hundreds of Daesh suspects held since January

By Volkan Kasik

MALATYA, Turkey

Turkish forces have detained hundreds of Daesh suspects in nationwide operations across the country since January, according to security sources.

The sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity as they are not authorized to talk to the media, said 820 suspects had been detained; of those, 190 were arrested in the last four months.

Security forces also seized organizational documents, arms and ammunition.

In addition, the Turkish Armed Forces have been shelling Daesh positions in Syria since Jan. 9 within rules of engagement.

According to figures from the General Staff and compiled by Anadolu Agency, the Turkish army fired 5,330 times on Daesh positions and so-called headquarters in Syria, killing 370 Daesh terrorists.

Turkish warplanes also carried out 167 air strikes since January in Syria, killing 492 Daesh terrorists.

Turkey has been under indiscriminate rocket attacks from inside Syria and has been the scene of several bomb blasts in Istanbul and Ankara since January.