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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| ISIL advancing on grandfather of the founder of Ottoman Empire's tomb in Syria |
| 2014-10-02 |
| [ABNA.IR] Turkey on Tuesday said ISIL Terrorist were advancing on a tiny exclave considered Turkish territory in northern Syria, but insisted it was still in control of the land despite reports its guards there were encircled. The tomb of Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire Osman I, on the Euphrates River, is Turkish territory under a 1920s treaty and still guarded by a few dozen Turkish troops. The pro-government Yeni Safak daily had reported earlier that the 36 Turkish soldiers guarding the tomb had been overwhelmed by a group of some 1,100 ISIL Terrorists. It suggested that the troops could now be held hostage by the Terrorists. But Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arninc acknowledged that ISIL Terrorists were advancing on the tomb but played down speculation that the situation was critical. Turkey has previously warned that it would consider an attack on Suleyman Shah as an attack on its sovereign territory to which it would respond in kind. The tomb is located around 25 kilometers south of the Turkish border in northern Syria, much of which is now under the control of ISIL Terrorists. Details of Turkey's control of the tomb are kept mostly secret and it is not clear how Ankara keeps the guards resupplied or how its troops are moved in and out for their patrol missions. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Given the proximity, Turkish resources, and transit through Turkey by ISIL members, seems like it would have been straightforward for the Turks to scoop up some ISIL players to trade for their diplomatic staff. |
| Posted by: Classical_Liberal 2014-10-02 20:23 |
| #4 presumably there was an indirect ransom Probably a trade for a multiple number of prisoners, either in Turkey or elsewhere. President Erdogan talked vaguely about the example set by the US (for that deserter) and Israel (for Schalit, et al). |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2014-10-02 19:40 |
| #3 back in March, Turkey probably underestimated the strength of ISIS and overestimated the strength of Assad since ISIS took a bunch of Turkish diplos hostage (the hostages were released presumably there was an indirect ransom), Turkey has been more sheepish about taking on ISIS with ground forces |
| Posted by: lord garth 2014-10-02 14:27 |
| #2 On 27 March 2014, recordings were released on YouTube of a conversation purportedly involving Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Feridun Sinirlioğlu, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) head Hakan Fidan, and Deputy Chief of General Staff General Yaşar Güler. The recording has been reported as being probably recorded at Davutoğlu's office at the Foreign Ministry on 13 March. Transcripts of the conversation reveal that, as well as exploring the options for Turkish forces engaging in false flag operations inside Syria, the meeting involved a discussion about using the threat to the tomb as an excuse for Turkey to intervene militarily inside Syria. Davutoğlu stated that Erdogan told him that he saw the threat to the tomb as an "opportunity." Wiki Opportunity? Never let a crisis go to waste maxim of Rahm Emmauel? Who would have known his fame had spread to Turkey. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2014-10-02 14:22 |
| #1 Who knew? Huh, everyday it's something new. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2014-10-02 05:45 |