Turkish police initiated a major raid in Elmalik village, 100 km from Istanbul, on the night of 28/12 and early morning of 29/12. This operation was part of a broader crackdown aimed at preventing planned attacks targeting minority groups during the winter holidays.

As officers entered an IS "safe house," the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) gunmen opened fire. This resulted in the deaths of three officers and injuries to eight others, sparking a shootout that lasted for over seven hours.

Social media videos showed gunfire echoing through the village during the night, with smoke rising from the raid area and fire trucks rushing to the scene. Turkish police reported killing six IS members and arresting five suspects.

Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that the raid was conducted with extreme caution due to the presence of women and children in the house. He added that five women and six children from the residence were moved to safety.

Electricity and gas supplies in Elmalik were cut throughout the police operation. Schools in the area also remained closed for the entire day.

Armored vehicles of the Turkish gendarmerie in the Yalova province area during the raid on an IS stronghold on 29/12. _Photo: Reuters_

Turkey regularly conducts large-scale counter-terrorism operations nationwide, targeting IS and other armed groups designated as terrorist organizations by the government.

Police have intensified sweeps during year-end holidays since IS attacked the Reina nightclub during New Year's Eve celebrations in 2017, killing 39 people. Last January, IS gunmen attacked a church in Istanbul, killing one person.

Ngoc Anh (According to CNN, Yahoo News)