Turkey Syria Isil Arrests — Turkish and Syrian intelligence agencies have arrested 10 people suspected of belonging to the Islamic State militant group, in a joint operation that underscores the rapidly evolving security relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization confirmed the arrests were carried out in Syria following a coordinated effort in which agents from both countries closely monitored the suspects’ movements before moving in. The operation was reported by Turkish state broadcaster TRT on Saturday.
All 10 detainees were subject to Interpol Red Notices — the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant that Interpol issues, directing law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally detain a named individual. During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted to membership in ISIL, and acknowledged receiving both training and operational instructions from the organisation.
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Among those detained is Ali Bora, who is believed to have served as ISIL’s intelligence chief for Turkey. Bora reportedly joined the militant group in 2014 and is considered a significant figure in the network’s Turkish operations. His arrest is regarded as one of the most consequential counterterrorism captures in the operation.
At least one other detainee is alleged to have direct links to individuals responsible for the twin bombings in Ankara in October 2015, one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Turkey’s modern history. Those coordinated suicide bombings, carried out at a peace rally near the city’s main train station, killed more than 100 people and wounded hundreds more. ISIL was widely blamed for the attack.
The suspects are also alleged to have participated in other terrorist attacks on Turkish soil, though specific incidents beyond the Ankara bombings were not detailed in the intelligence disclosures.
The operation is a notable symbol of the transformed relationship between Ankara and Damascus. For years, Turkey and Syria were effectively adversaries, with Ankara backing opposition forces against longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad. That dynamic shifted dramatically after al-Assad was overthrown by forces loyal to President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whose government has since moved to build functional ties with Turkey. Security cooperation, as demonstrated by this joint arrest operation, has emerged as one of the most concrete expressions of that rapprochement.
Turkey Syria Isil Arrests: Regional Implications
The willingness of Syria’s new administration to coordinate directly with Turkish intelligence on counterterrorism objectives signals a strategic alignment that would have been unthinkable under the previous Damascus government. For Turkey, which has suffered repeated ISIL-linked attacks on its territory over the past decade, the ability to operate jointly inside Syrian territory represents a significant operational advantage.
ISIL, also known as ISIS or Daesh, has maintained a residual presence in parts of Syria despite the territorial collapse of its self-declared caliphate in 2019. Turkish authorities have long argued that the group continues to use Syrian territory to plan and coordinate attacks across the border, making cross-border intelligence sharing a priority.
The arrests are expected to yield further intelligence on ISIL’s remaining networks, recruitment pipelines, and any ongoing operational planning targeting Turkey or the broader region. Turkish authorities have not indicated whether extradition proceedings or trials in Syria are planned for the detainees.
