Three Turkish police officers killed by ISIS militants as authorities step up raids over winter holidays

Tuesday, December 30, 2025 -In a stark reminder of ongoing security challenges, three Turkish police officers were killed and several others wounded during a major counterterrorism operation against Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Yalova province in northwest Turkey on Monday. 

The clash erupted when police raided a suspected ISIS hideout in the Elmali area and came under heavy fire from extremists inside, forcing a prolonged and intense confrontation. Authorities confirmed that six ISIS militants were also killed in the operation as part of a broader effort to disrupt terror cells active in the region.

The raid was one of more than 100 coordinated counterterrorism actions carried out across 15 provinces, as Turkish security forces stepped up pressure on suspected ISIS networks ahead of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations amid intelligence warnings of planned attacks. 

Officials reported that at least eight police officers and a village guard were wounded, and that women and children inside the targeted property were evacuated safely before the firefight began. Electricity and natural gas were temporarily cut in the area as a security precaution, and nearby schools were closed for the day following the deadly clash.

This deadly encounter underscores Ankara’s heightened vigilance during the holiday season, a period historically targeted by extremists seeking to inflict mass casualties. Turkish authorities have also detained hundreds of suspected ISIS members nationwide in recent days as part of these intensified operations, highlighting the government’s zero‑tolerance stance on terrorism. 

The incident has prompted an ongoing investigation, with prosecutors and security officials working to understand the full scope of the militants’ networks and intentions amid growing concerns of renewed extremist activity.