STORY: Türkiye nabs administrative head of IS terrorist group operating in Syria
SHOOTING TIME: Dec. 18, 2023
DATELINE: Dec. 20, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:11
LOCATION: Ankara
CATEGORY: LAW

SHOTLIST: 
1. various of the anti-terror operation of Turkish security forces against IS in the southern Mersin province of Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency)
2. the photo of the IS suspect, Huzeyfe Al Muri, who was caught by Turkish security forces in the southern Mersin province of Türkiye (courtesy of ihlas news agency)

STORYLINE:

Turkish intelligence detained the administrative and financial head of the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group operating in Syria, the semi-official Anadolu Agency reported Tuesday.

The IS suspect, Huzeyfe Al Muri, codenamed Eyyup, was caught in Türkiye's southern province of Mersin, Anadolu quoted anonymous security sources as saying.

The Turkish security forces seized 28,800 U.S. dollars, 14,950 euros (16,405 U.S. dollars), 31,800 Turkish liras (1,093 U.S. dollars), and many digital materials of the terrorist group during the raid. Turkish authorities also detected mobile applications used by IS for money transfers, according to Anadolu.

In his testimony, Huzeyfe Al Muri gave detailed information about the process of joining the terror group, his activities in Syria and Türkiye, the IS members he was in contact with, and his money transfers, the news agency reported.

The Turkish government designated the IS a terrorist organization in 2013, blaming it for a spate of deadly attacks in the country since 2015.

Türkiye's southern border with Syria has been a major crossing point for Syrians and foreign fighters since a civil war broke out in the Arab country in 2011.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Ankara.
(XHTV)