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Three Turkish police officers were killed and nine were wounded when Daesh terrorists opened fire during an anti-terrorism operation in Yalova province, Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced Monday.
Six terrorists were killed in the ensuing clashes, while five women and six children were safely evacuated from the building, Yerlikaya said.
"Heroic police officers were fired upon by Daesh terrorists in Yalova. As a result of this treacherous attack, 3 of our heroic police colleagues were martyred," Yerlikaya said.
According to the reports, Provincial Security Directorate teams launched an operation targeting Daesh at a house on the Elmalik village road in the central district. Clashes broke out during the operation.
The Yalova operation was part of simultaneous raids on 108 separate addresses across 15 provinces on Monday morning, Yerlikaya said.
"The operation was conducted with great sensitivity because there were women and children in the house where the terrorists were located," Yerlikaya said.
"Five women and six children were safely evacuated. In the ensuing clashes, six terrorists were killed. As a result of the treacherous attack, unfortunately, three of our heroic police officers were martyred. Eight of our police officers and one watchman were also wounded in the attack," he added.
Yerlikaya confirmed that the terrorists were Turkish citizens.
According to information obtained by Ihlas News Agency (IHA), the three killed police officers serving under Yalova Provincial Security Directorate were identified as Yasin Kocyigit, Turgut Kulunk and Ilker Pehlivan.
The information was later confirmed by the Yerlikaya: "This morning in Yalova, in a treacherous attack carried out by Daesh terrorists, three of our heroic police officers, Ilker Pehlivan, Turgut Kulunk, and Yasin Kocyigit, were martyred."
They were killed when terrorists inside the building opened fire on officers during the operation conducted by Yalova Provincial Security Directorate Counter-Terrorism Branch teams targeting Daesh sympathizers.
Türkiye's ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Spokesperson Omer Celik: "We pray to Allah for mercy upon our heroic police officers who were martyred during the operation against the Daesh terrorist organization in Yalova. Terrorism is the enemy of humanity."
Yalova Provincial Security Directorate teams, Bursa Provincial Security Directorate Special Operations Branch teams, and forces from Yalova Provincial Gendarmerie Command—including one commando team, two Cobra armored vehicles, and one Shorland armored vehicle—were deployed to the scene.
The Yalova operation comes amid a series of counter-terrorism operations targeting Daesh across Türkiye ahead of New Year celebrations.
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