Turkey: 4 Iraqis arrested in anti-Daesh probe

SAMSUN, Turkey (AA) - Four Iraqi nationals were arrested in Turkey's Samsun province Monday evening as part of an anti-Daesh probe.

According to sources in Samsun’s anti-terror branch, Hammam Huma Khudur, Sermed Muhammed S, Ukab Nuri, and Rami Faris Mufdhi were arrested on charges of being members of an armed terrorist organization.

In the same probe, four other Iraqi nationals were released under judicial control today, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

On Nov. 22, police from the Black Sea province detained eight Iraqi nationals.

- 2 tons of fertilizer seized in SE Turkey

Separately, Turkish gendarmerie units Monday seized two tons of fertilizers along with equipment for making explosives in the southeastern Hakkari province.

According to the Hakkari Governor’s Office, the gendarmerie made the seizures in raids on three different shelters used by the terrorist PKK.

The office said the fertilizer was originally brought from Iran.

- Long-barreled weapons seized

An operation against the terrorist organization PKK was also conducted in the southeastern Batman province, where Turkish security forces seized two long-barreled weapons.

According to the Batman Governor’s Office, a suspected driver in the same operation was also detained and later arrested.

The PKK – listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU – resumed its decades-old armed campaign in July 2015. Since then, more than 300 civilians and nearly 800 security personnel have been martyred. Around 8,000 PKK terrorists have been killed or apprehended.