Ten Turkish and Syrian officials detained over alleged ISIL connections

Turkish-Syrian Intelligence Services Arrest 10 Suspects Linked to ISIL

Turkish state broadcaster TRT reported on Saturday that Turkish and Syrian intelligence services have arrested 10 individuals suspected of having ties to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The arrests were made in Syria following a joint operation between the two countries’ intelligence agencies.

According to officials, those arrested allegedly participated in terrorist attacks in Turkey. The National Intelligence Organization of Turkiye stated that the suspects were apprehended as part of a targeted operation, during which Turkish and Syrian agents monitored their movements closely.

Interpol had issued international alerts, also known as Red Notices, for all 10 individuals. A Red Notice is an international request for law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest a person pending extradition or surrender.

Among the detainees, one individual allegedly has connections to those responsible for the 2015 twin bombings in Ankara, which resulted in over 100 fatalities. Another suspect, Ali Bora, is believed to have served as ISIL’s intelligence chief for Turkiye after joining the group in 2014.

During questioning, the detainees reportedly admitted to being members of ISIL and receiving training and operational instructions from the group. The arrests follow recent developments in Ankara-Damascus relations, which have strengthened since Syria’s de facto leader, President Ahmed al-Sharaa, and his forces overthrew longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad.

Source: Al Jazeera