Turkey Illicit Network Index
Illicit networks active in Turkey, focused on the Syrian civil war.
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Covert relationships
The Turkey illicit network index (INI) maps networks active in Turkey, with a primary focus on the country's involvement in the Syrian civil war for geopolitical reasons. The dataset identifies links between Turkish entities and organizations involved in the conflict, including groups tied to international terrorist networks and the Kurdish movement.
Turkey has maintained covert relationships with Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the designated terrorist group that recently consolidated power in Syria. Through secret transactions, Turkey has supported groups related to HTS throughout the conflict - connections confirmed by various international observers, diplomats, and researchers. Some Turkish companies operated in Syria during the war and are now sanctioned, while some of them have indirect links to terrorist organizations such as ISIS and Al Qaida.
Turkish companies have also been sanctioned for activities that supported the Russian economy and the war in Ukraine and transactions involving military jet purchases from Russia.
Furthermore, the index identifies several Turkish nationals involved in international terrorist networks and criminal gangs active in the country.