QA-38, 11 May 2018, Statement of the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hami Aksoy, in response to a question regarding an article on the capture of 5 DAESH leaders published on the New York Times

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Dışişleri Bakanlığı 11.05.2018

Turkey has mobilized all its national capacity in the fight against DAESH. We are pleased to see that the international cooperation established in this regard is yielding important results.

The operation referred to in the New York Times article published on May 9 initially started with the apprehension of a leading member of DAESH, Ismail Alwaan al-Ithawi, by the Turkish intelligence and law enforcement agencies in Sakarya and his subsequent deportation to Iraq.

We are pleased by the success of the operation that also benefited from Turkey’s contribution. Turkey shall continue its efforts in countering DAESH in cooperation with the US, Iraq and other countries.