Turkey arrests 14 trying to enter Syria to join IS

Turkey arrested one of its nationals and 13 foreigners trying to cross into Syria to join the Islamic State (IS) militant group, said the Turkish military on Wednesday.

Turkish security forces detained 14 people "who tried to cross into Syria in order to join Deash (IS in Arabic)," in Oguzeli district of Gaziantep province in southern Turkey, according to a written statement issued by the Turkish Armed Forces.

The Turkish national was released after interrogation by prosecutor, while the rest 13 foreigners were taken to Gaziantep Police Department for deportation, said the statement.

Turkey deported 1,065 foreigners and placed a travel ban on 9,915 others, as part of its efforts to curb militant recruitment into neighboring Syria and Iraq, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last Wednesday.

Last month, a woman suspected of ties to the recent Paris attacks entered Syria from Turkey on Jan. 8. Hayat Boumeddiene, wife of Amedy Coulibaly, who killed four hostages at a supermarket in Paris, arrived in Turkey from Madrid on Jan. 2 before fleeing to Syria.

Turkey has been hit by the international community for not taking sufficient measures along its borders with Syria to prevent foreign fighters, a remarkable number of which originated from EU countries, from getting into Syria.

Ankara, in response, demanded increased intelligence sharing from European countries especially regarding suspected citizens who might join the IS. Endit