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Turkish Military Enters Syria to Evacuate Soldiers Guarding Tomb, Reports Say Turkish Military Enters Syria to Evacuate Soldiers Guarding Tomb, Reports Say
(about 2 hours later)
ISTANBUL — The Turkish Army launched a military operation into Syria late Saturday to evacuate the Tomb of Suleyman Shah, which has been besieged by Islamic State militants since last year, Turkish news media reported. ISTANBUL — The Turkish Army launched a military operation into Syria to evacuate the Tomb of Suleyman Shah, which has been besieged by Islamic State militants, and one soldier was killed during the operation, Turkish news media reported on Sunday.
A large convoy of tanks and other heavy weaponry entered Syria through Kobani, the Kurdish territory in Syria that has recently been freed of Islamic State militants in an American-led military operation, according to reports by the Turkish newspapers Milliyet and Yeni Safak. The reports were pulled from the Internet almost immediately after being posted. A large convoy of tanks and other heavy weaponry entered Syria through Kobani, the Kurdish territory in Syria that has recently been freed of Islamic State militants in an American-led military operation, according to reports Saturday by the Turkish newspapers Milliyet and Yeni Safak. The reports were pulled from the Internet almost immediately after being posted.
The military operation was reportedly conducted in correspondence with Enver Muslim, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish group in control of Kobani, and aimed to evacuate around 40 soldiers, including 20 elite troops from the Turkish special forces who guarded the tomb. Suleyman Shah was the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, and his tomb is considered by the government here to be Turkish territory. On Sunday, CNNTürk, citing military sources, reported that a soldier was killed because of an accident.
The reports said that the operation started on Saturday and continued through Sunday, although it was uncertain whether the Turkish military had confronted the Islamic State militants who held the territory around the tomb, which lies about 20 miles inside Syria. The military operation was reportedly conducted in correspondence with Enver Muslim, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish group in control of Kobani, and aimed to evacuate around 40 soldiers, including 20 elite troops from the Turkish special forces who guarded the tomb. Suleyman Shah was the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire. His tomb is considered by the government here to be Turkish territory, and it has been guarded by Turkish soldiers.
The reports said that the operation started on Saturday and continued through Sunday, although it was uncertain whether the Turkish military had confronted the militants who held the territory around the tomb, which lies about 20 miles inside Syria.
In March, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, the foreign minister at the time, said that Turkey would take any measure necessary to safeguard the security of the tomb, referred to as Turkish soil based on an accord signed between Turkey and France in 1921.In March, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu of Turkey, the foreign minister at the time, said that Turkey would take any measure necessary to safeguard the security of the tomb, referred to as Turkish soil based on an accord signed between Turkey and France in 1921.
“Should there be an attack, either from the regime, or radical groups or elsewhere, it would be countered equally,” he said.“Should there be an attack, either from the regime, or radical groups or elsewhere, it would be countered equally,” he said.
Mr. Davutoglu’s statement was soon followed by the replacement of the tomb’s regular guards with special forces troops.Mr. Davutoglu’s statement was soon followed by the replacement of the tomb’s regular guards with special forces troops.
In 2012, at a time Syrian conflict had intensified and started to threaten the security along Turkey’s southern borders, Ankara revised its military engagement rules and licensed the army to launch cross-border operations as deemed necessary.In 2012, at a time Syrian conflict had intensified and started to threaten the security along Turkey’s southern borders, Ankara revised its military engagement rules and licensed the army to launch cross-border operations as deemed necessary.
As of early Sunday, there had been no official statements regarding the military operation.As of early Sunday, there had been no official statements regarding the military operation.
But a Turkish lawmaker said on his Twitter account that Turkish military had entered into Syria and arrived at the Suleyman Shah tomb early Sunday. But a Turkish lawmaker said on his Twitter account that Turkish military had entered into Syria and arrived at the tomb early Sunday.
“TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) entered in Saygi Station. Our station is taken under protection. Clashes or attacks out of question,” wrote Sinan Ogan, a deputy of Nationalist Movement Party in opposition.“TSK (Turkish Armed Forces) entered in Saygi Station. Our station is taken under protection. Clashes or attacks out of question,” wrote Sinan Ogan, a deputy of Nationalist Movement Party in opposition.
Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister, on Friday denied claims that Turkish troops guarding the Suleyman Shah tomb had been taken hostage by the Islamic State, also known ISIS or ISIL, calling such reports “false,” the semiofficial Anadolu News Agency reported.Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey’s foreign minister, on Friday denied claims that Turkish troops guarding the Suleyman Shah tomb had been taken hostage by the Islamic State, also known ISIS or ISIL, calling such reports “false,” the semiofficial Anadolu News Agency reported.