Smoke rises in the background as police block a road leading to a site where Turkish police launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected ISIS militants. Reuters
Smoke rises in the background as police block a road leading to a site where Turkish police launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected ISIS militants. Reuters
Smoke rises in the background as police block a road leading to a site where Turkish police launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected ISIS militants. Reuters
Smoke rises in the background as police block a road leading to a site where Turkish police launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected ISIS militants. Reuters

News

MENA

Seven Turkish police injured in gunfight with ISIS militants

Suspects reported to have opened fire as officers launched raid in north-western city of Yalova

The National

December 29, 2025

  • English
  • Arabic

Seven Turkish police officers were injured in a shootout with suspected ISIS militants in north-west Turkey's Yalova province on Monday, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported.

It said police teams had launched an operation on a house believed to ‌contain militants near the city of ‍Yalova, on the Sea ‍of Marmara coast, south of Istanbul.

Broadcaster NTV said the suspects had opened fire on police as they launched the operation. Police special forces were sent from nearby Bursa province to provide support, it added.

The ⁠wounded police officers were not reported to be in a serious condition, said TRT.

Several schools in the region were closed while vehicles were also prohibited from entering the area where the incident took place, it added.

It was not reported whether any suspects were injured or arrested.

Turkey has stepped up operations to curb extremism and prevent terrorist attacks.

Last week, Turkish police arrested 115 suspected ISIS members they said were planning to carry out attacks on Christmas and New Year celebrations in the country.

The group has carried out several deadly attacks in Turkey. In January 2024, two gunmen attacked a Catholic church in Istanbul during Sunday Mass, killing one man.

Police officers block a road leading to a site where Turkish police launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected ISIS militants. Reuters
Police officers block a road leading to a site where Turkish police launched an operation on a house believed to contain suspected ISIS militants. Reuters

Early on January 1, 2017, an ISIS gunman killed 39 people celebrating the New Year at a nightclub in Istanbul.

In addition, hundreds of people were killed in ISIS attacks on Ataturk Airport in Istanbul and in the south-eastern city of Diyarbakır between 2015 and 2017.

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
While you're here
The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

FIXTURES (all times UAE)

Sunday
Brescia v Lazio (3.30pm)
SPAL v Verona (6pm)
Genoa v Sassuolo (9pm)
AS Roma v Torino (11.45pm)

Monday
Bologna v Fiorentina (3.30pm)
AC Milan v Sampdoria (6pm)
Juventus v Cagliari (6pm)
Atalanta v Parma (6pm)
Lecce v Udinese (9pm)
Napoli v Inter Milan (11.45pm)

FINAL RESULT

Sharjah Wanderers 20 Dubai Tigers 25 (After extra-time)

Wanderers
Tries: Gormley, Penalty
cons: Flaherty
Pens: Flaherty 2

Tigers
Tries: O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons: Caldwell 2
Pens: Caldwell, Cross

Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut

Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”

While you're here
Updated: December 29, 2025, 7:47 AM
TurkeyISIS