29.12.2025 18:45
After the operation in Yalova, where 3 police officers were martyred and 6 ISIS members were killed, residents of the neighborhood where the clash took place recounted that night. The neighborhood residents stated that they experienced great fear during the approximately 8-hour-long conflict and mentioned that a similar operation had been conducted in the area 2 years ago.
After the operation in Yalova, where 3 police officers were martyred and 6 ISIS members were killed, residents of the neighborhood where the conflict occurred recounted that night. During the approximately 8-hour-long clash, the neighborhood residents experienced great fear.
AWAKENED BY GUNSHOTS
A clash broke out around 2:00 AM during an ISIS operation targeting a house on Seher Street in the İsmetpaşa neighborhood of central Yalova. While the clash continued into the morning hours, extensive security measures were taken in the neighborhood. In the operation, 3 police officers were martyred, while 8 police officers and 1 guard were injured. Women and children in the house were rescued unharmed.
"THE POLICE TOLD US NOT TO GO TO THE BALCONY OR WINDOWS"
A resident named Hatice, who lives across the street from the house where the clash occurred, stated that she woke up to the sound of gunfire and said:
"I woke up at 2:20 AM to the sound of gunfire. The clash continued until morning, and the electricity was cut off. The police told us as a precaution not to go to the balcony or windows. They told us to lie down, but how can you lie down with those gunshots?"
"OUR HEARTS WERE BROKEN AS THE BULLETS RAINED DOWN ON US"
Hatice recounted that her grandchildren were very scared during the clash, saying, "The children cried, 'Are they going to kill us, grandmother?' Our hearts were broken as those bullets rained down on us. I have lived in this neighborhood for 40 years, and this is the first time we have experienced something like this."
"WE WERE NEIGHBORS BUT NEVER SPOKE"
Hatice stated that they had no relationship with those living in the building where the clash occurred, saying, "The landlord said the tenant on the lower floor had 5 children, and the one on the upper floor had 1 child. A woman and children would come and go on a motorcycle. We had no conversation. Once, the person on the upper floor said he was going to sign weekly."
"I HEARD AN OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED 2 YEARS AGO"
A resident named Emine, who lives next to the house where the clash occurred, said that the events created deep sadness in the neighborhood. Emine stated, "Around 2:00 AM, we heard the sounds of the clash and went out to the balcony. The clash was ongoing. It continued until 8-9 in the morning. The sounds of the clash were very terrifying. I was most surprised because I never thought something like this would happen in the neighborhood, but unfortunately, it did. May God not let our state perish. May God give strength to our security forces. They all worked very well. With God's permission, they eliminated them. Unfortunately, even if a thousand of them die, it doesn't equal one police officer. We were very saddened for our police officers. I had heard that an operation was conducted about 2 years ago. But such an event had not happened before. The major clash occurred at the site of the incident, but gunfire was also heard in the distant neighborhoods. I do not know the people living in the building where the clash occurred. It is very sad for this place to be remembered for such an event. I wouldn't want my neighborhood to be remembered this way. There is also a school very close by. From now on, people will be afraid."