Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced the detention of 459 individuals in a nationwide operation targeting the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ).

The operation, code-named Kıskaç-30, spanned 66 provinces and is part of Türkiye’s ongoing efforts to combat the group.

In a statement shared on social media platform X, Yerlikaya reaffirmed Türkiye’s determination to eradicate FETÖ, emphasizing that there would be no relaxation in the fight against what he called a “treacherous terrorist organization,” even after the death of its leader.

The operation was carried out by the Provincial Security Directorates’ Counterterrorism (TEM) and Anti-Smuggling and Organized Crime (KOM) branches, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Security and Chief Public Prosecutor’s Offices. Suspects were detained in provinces such as Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Diyarbakır, and Bursa. They are accused of engaging in FETÖ’s financial, educational, police, and military activities, promoting the group on social media, communicating with senior members via pay phones, and hiding in “Gaybubet Houses” (safe houses). Some were flagged for using ByLock, an encrypted communication app associated with FETÖ, or linked to irregularities in exam investigations.

Yerlikaya commended the efforts of law enforcement and judicial authorities, extending his gratitude to the officers involved. “I congratulate our heroic police officers who carried out these operations. May God bless your efforts. The prayers of our nation are with you,” he stated.

The Kıskaç-30 operation underscores Türkiye’s unwavering commitment to dismantling FETÖ. The organization, designated as a terrorist group by Ankara, is accused of orchestrating the July 15, 2016 coup attempt. Türkiye continues to prioritize its fight against FETÖ as a cornerstone of its national security strategy. (ILKHA)