ISTANBUL, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police on Tuesday detained 15 suspects in the northwestern provinces of Istanbul and Kocaeli for their alleged links to the Islamic State (IS), local media reported.

The state-run Anadolu agency said the counter-terrorism units launched simultaneous operations at different locations in the provinces to catch the suspects.

Police also seized a rifle and a large number of organizational documents in the raids, the report added.

Turkey has long been committed to clear IS terrorists from the country with tightening operations against the suspects.

Police last week detained 38 foreigners in Istanbul, who were believed to have been planning terror attacks.

Over 300 people have lost their lives in the attacks over the years that were blamed on the IS.???