Syria says Turkish incursion ‘flagrant aggression’
DAMASCUS - Reuters
Turkey informed the Syrian Consulate in Istanbul about a military operation to evacuate its military personnel protecting the Tomb of Süleyman Şah in northern Syria, but Ankara did not await permission from Damascus, the Syrian government said Feb. 22.
The Syrian government has described the incursion as "flagrant aggression," holding Turkey responsible for the "repercussions of this aggression."
Turkey has evacuated its military personnel protecting the Tomb of
Süleyman Şah in northern Syria as well as the artifacts in the mausoleum
in an operation jointly conducted by the intelligence organization and
the Turkish army.
The tomb, around 37 kilometers from the Turkish border, is regarded as
Turkish territory by international agreements and was protected by
around 40 soldiers.
Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said that the artifacts
had been “temporarily” brought to Turkey, while the Turkish army “took
control of an area in the Ashma region of Syria, raising our flag, where
Süleyman Şah will later be transferred.”
Turkey informed the Syrian Consulate in Istanbul about a military operation to evacuate its military personnel protecting the Tomb of Süleyman Şah in northern Syria, but Ankara did not await permission from Damascus, the Syrian government said Feb. 22.
