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Turkey enters Syria to evacuate Suleyman Shah tomb Turkey enters Syria to remove precious Suleyman Shah tomb
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of Turkish troops in armoured vehicles have entered northern Syria and evacuated a historic Ottoman tomb and the soldiers guarding it. Hundreds of Turkish troops in armoured vehicles have entered war-torn northern Syria to remove a historic Ottoman tomb and evacuate its beleaguered guards.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the remains of Suleyman Shah would be moved elsewhere in Syria. The mausoleum was demolished and the remains of Suleyman Shah, who died in the 13th Century, were moved to a site in Syria closer to the Turkish border.
He said troops had destroyed the tomb, apparently to prevent it from being used by Islamic State (IS) militants. Turkey considers the shrine sovereign territory.
Turkey considers the shrine sovereign territory, but Syria condemned the incursion as "flagrant aggression". Islamic State (IS) militants in the area had threatened to attack it last year.
In a statement read out on state TV, Syria said Turkey had informed its Istanbul consulate about the operation, but had not awaited Syria's agreement. The government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which has lost control over much of northern Syria as a result of the country's civil war, condemned the incursion as "flagrant aggression".
It said that Turkey had informed its Istanbul consulate about the operation but had not waited for Syria's consent.
Suleyman Shah, who lived from about 1178 to 1236, was grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman empire, Osman I.Suleyman Shah, who lived from about 1178 to 1236, was grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman empire, Osman I.
Speaking on television, Mr Davutoglu said the operation was carried out "to protect our spiritual values and the safety of our armed forces personnel". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government and the armed forces had carried out a "successful operation which is beyond all kinds of appreciation".
Earlier, in a series of tweets (in Turkish), Mr Davutoglu hailed the armed forces for carrying out a "highly successful" operation amid the "inherent risks" of conflict in Syria. All the relics at the tomb and the Turkish soldiers who had been guarding it had been brought out "safe and sound", he said.
One soldier was killed accidentally in the overnight raid, the military said.
Selin Girit, BBC News, on Turkish border with SyriaSelin Girit, BBC News, on Turkish border with Syria
The tomb of Suleiman Shah was the one and only Turkish enclave abroad, in accordance with a treaty signed in 1921. This was the burial site of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the Ottoman Empire's founder Osman I - which meant it had historical significance too.The tomb of Suleiman Shah was the one and only Turkish enclave abroad, in accordance with a treaty signed in 1921. This was the burial site of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the Ottoman Empire's founder Osman I - which meant it had historical significance too.
Turkey was concerned with the rising Islamic State threat in the area. In March 2014, IS threatened to attack the site unless Turkish troops guarding the tomb were withdrawn in three days; but such an attack did not take place. If the tomb had in fact come under attack, that would have provoked serious reaction from Turkey.Turkey was concerned with the rising Islamic State threat in the area. In March 2014, IS threatened to attack the site unless Turkish troops guarding the tomb were withdrawn in three days; but such an attack did not take place. If the tomb had in fact come under attack, that would have provoked serious reaction from Turkey.
In August 2012, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - then PM - had warned that an act against the tomb would be considered "an attack on our territory, as well an attack on Nato land". Last year, the Turkish parliament authorized the use of force against IS militants. Commentators in Turkish media say the fact that the tomb is now moved and soldiers are evacuated is a relief for Turkey.In August 2012, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - then PM - had warned that an act against the tomb would be considered "an attack on our territory, as well an attack on Nato land". Last year, the Turkish parliament authorized the use of force against IS militants. Commentators in Turkish media say the fact that the tomb is now moved and soldiers are evacuated is a relief for Turkey.
Why tomb is so important to Turkey The remains of Suleyman Shah have been moved to a hill north of the village of Esmesi close to the Turkish border, in an area under Turkish military control.
He said the remains had been moved to Turkey but would soon be rehoused in an area of Syria under Turkish military control, closer to the Turkish border. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he hoped the remains could be returned to the old burial site eventually.
The Turkish flag had already been raised over the site, the PM said. The operation unfolded peacefully, beginning on Saturday at about 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) and ending on Sunday morning, with 572 soldiers involved, Mr Davutoglu said.
There were no clashes with IS during the operation, but one soldier died in an accident, he added. A convoy of 39 tanks and 57 armoured vehicles streamed through Kobane, the city which Syrian Kurdish fighters retook last month from IS.
The operation began on Saturday at about 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) and ended on Sunday morning. They travelled some 35km (20 miles) south to the tomb on the banks of the Euphrates river, where Suleyman Shah is believed to have drowned.
A large convoy, including 600 troops and about 100 tanks and armoured vehicles, passed through Kobane - the city which Syrian Kurdish fighters retook last month from IS - and travelled some 35km (20 miles) south to the tomb on the banks of the Euphrates river. Soldiers raised a Turkish flag at the new grave site.
Suleyman Shah is believed to have drowned in the river. Mr Davutoglu was kept abreast of the operation at army headquarters in Ankara.
The tomb has been permanently guarded by a contingent of about 40 soldiers, who rotate periodically.The tomb has been permanently guarded by a contingent of about 40 soldiers, who rotate periodically.
The site is part of Turkish territory, according to a treaty signed in 1921 (in French) that gave Turkey the right to station guards and fly its flag there.The site is part of Turkish territory, according to a treaty signed in 1921 (in French) that gave Turkey the right to station guards and fly its flag there.
When the treaty was signed the tomb and legal enclave were some 80km south of their current location, but were moved after the original site was flooded by the creation of the reservoir Lake Assad in 1974. When the treaty was signed the tomb and legal enclave were some 80km south of their current location but were moved after the original site was flooded by the creation of the reservoir Lake Assad in 1974.
The Turkish convoy was believed to be larger and more heavily armed than usual because of recent heavy fighting between the Kurdish militia and Syrian rebel groups against IS militants.
Since driving IS out of Kobane in January, the Kurdish Popular Protection Units and rebels have taken a number of surrounding villages.Since driving IS out of Kobane in January, the Kurdish Popular Protection Units and rebels have taken a number of surrounding villages.
They are now said to be only 25km from Tal Abyad - the strategically important border town east of Kobane that is used by IS militants to cross into Turkey.They are now said to be only 25km from Tal Abyad - the strategically important border town east of Kobane that is used by IS militants to cross into Turkey.
IS has seized larges swathes in Syria and Iraq, proclaiming a caliphate.IS has seized larges swathes in Syria and Iraq, proclaiming a caliphate.