12 suspected ISIL terrorists held on Turkish-Syrian border

A total of 12 people were apprehended by border guards as they attempted to cross into Syria from Turkey, allegedly to join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levent (ISIL).

The operation was based on a recent intelligence report warning of a group of foreigners intending to travel to Syria to join ISIL. Officials did not disclose their nationalities. They were arrested when they were referred to the courthouse after police questioning.

In the early days of the Syrian conflict in 2011, the international community largely ignored the flow of foreigners into the ranks of ISIL despite Turkey's warnings of growing threats in Syria. Ankara has later faced a barrage of criticism in many European Union (EU) member states over the influx of foreign terrorists. The authorities in EU capitals have accused Ankara of failing to prevent foreign recruits from crossing into Syria from Turkey.

In a response to mounting criticism, the Turkish government has said its Western allies have not conveyed sufficient intelligence to support its efforts to halt the flow of foreigners streaming into Syria and Iraq in unprecedented numbers.

Turkey has blacklisted over 7,000 foreigners originating from Europe who may have been potentially recruited by ISIL, and deported 2,000 more to their respective countries to prevent foreign fighters from reaching ISIL-controlled areas of Iraq and Syria.

A UN report issued earlier this year said the number of foreign terrorists leaving home to join ISIL has risen to over 25,000 from 100 nations. Officials suggest that 56 percent of foreign nationals fighting for ISIL are from either Middle Eastern or African countries. Eighteen percent of them are said to come from North America and Europe.