Ankara, Dec 30: Islamic State militants clashed with police in northwest Turkiye on Monday, leaving three police officers and six militants dead, Turkiye’s interior minister said.At least eight other police officers and a night guard were wounded.
The shooting occurred in Elmali district in Yalova province, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house where the militants were hiding.
Special forces from neighbouring Bursa province were dispatched to reinforce the operation.
As the confrontation spread into the streets, five schools in the area were closed for the day, private news channel NTV reported.
Authorities also cut off natural gas and electricity supplies as a precaution, while civilians and vehicles were barred from entering the neighbourhood.
Last week, police launched scores of simultaneous raids, detaining 115 militants of the extremist group who were allegedly planning attacks targeting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
Officials said the group had called for action, particularly against non-Muslims, during the celebrations.
IS has carried out a series of deadly attacks in Turkiye in recent years, including a shooting at an Istanbul nightclub during New Year celebrations on Jan. 1, 2017, which killed 39 people.