The Islamic State continued the escalation of its war against Turkey on Monday. Islamic State soldiers attacked the city of Diyarbakir on Monday and a battle raged for several hours and is the most direct attack on a Turkish city since a bombing in the capital of Ankara two weeks ago. Diyarbakir is Turkey’s second largest city.

Two bombings in Ankara left over one hundred people dead and has been followed by a deadly battle on the eastern border of Turkey, according to The Daily Beast. Two police officers were killed in the attack and five were wounded in a running gunfight that has left nine dead so far.

Police came into the city with armored vehicles and ordered people off the streets and back inside of their homes. Blockades were set up all around the city. There was heavy fire everywhere as civilians fled for cover. Following the battle, Turkish authorities stated that Turkish forces had killed seven Islamic State soldiers and had captured another dozen or so. It is unknown if those responsible for the bombings in Ankara are among the dead or the detained.

During the mop up operations following the battle, Turkish soldiers uncovered some Islamic State documents as well as huge stores of ammunition and additional weapons. The Turkish authorities know there are Islamic State cells active in Turkey and they are hoping to be able to isolate and destroy them soon.

Even though Turkey is hopeful that Syrian strongman Assad will be removed and lose the current Syrian civil war, it will still not tolerate jihadists disrupting the civil order in Turkey. There were two attacks over the summer in Turkish cities by Turkish nationals who were members of Islamic State cells. More than 40 people were killed in attacks and the Turkish government wants to destroy any cells that are currently operating in the country.

It is believed that there may be more than 3,000 members of the Islamic State active in Turkey.