Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) has captured Ahmet Baykara, a key member of the al-Qaeda terrorist network accused of orchestrating multiple attacks on Turkish military bases in Syria.
According to Anadolu Agency, Baykara was apprehended in an undisclosed African country and extradited to Turkey.
Baykara, who was active in Syria’s Idlib region, played a significant role in planning and carrying out attacks on Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) from 2014 to 2019.
He organized five attacks on local police stations and was behind three bombings in the city of Taqa.
He also masterminded several planned assaults on high-profile targets within Turkey.
Fleeing to Africa after realizing he was being tracked by Turkish authorities, Baykara’s capture is seen as a significant blow to al-Qaeda’s operations in the region.
During his interrogation, Baykara confessed to coordinating cross-border attacks on Turkish military units and disclosed information about future operations, including the identities of his collaborators.
Anadolu shared a photo of Baykara in handcuffs, flanked by Turkish flags.
His capture underscores Ankara’s ongoing efforts to neutralize threats from terrorist groups, as Turkey continues its military operations in northern Syria to secure its borders from both Kurdish forces and ISIL fighters.
