Turkish security forces detained 208 suspects in a sweeping operation targeting the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) across 47 provinces, with Gaziantep as the epicenter, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Tuesday.

The early-morning raids dismantled key regional networks and recruitment mechanisms of the group, which Türkiye blames for the failed 2016 coup attempt.

The operation focused heavily on southeastern provinces, including Gaziantep, Kahramanmaraş, Kilis, Şanlıurfa, and Adıyaman, but extended to major cities such as Ankara, Istanbul, İzmir, Adana, Bursa, Diyarbakır, Antalya, Mardin, Muğla, Trabzon, Erzincan, and Van, alongside other Anatolian regions. Authorities uncovered FETÖ’s use of encrypted communication apps for organizing secret meetings both domestically and abroad, with some detainees linked to overseas training.

Yerlikaya revealed that FETÖ financed its operations through businesses run by affiliates. Security forces seized a significant cache of organizational documents and digital materials, providing further insight into the group’s clandestine activities.

This large-scale crackdown is part of Türkiye’s ongoing campaign to dismantle FETÖ’s remaining networks, following the group’s alleged role in the July 15, 2016, coup attempt that left hundreds dead and thousands injured. The operation underscores the government’s resolve to root out the organization’s influence across the country.  (ILKHA)