Turkey’s military carried out an operation in Syria overnight to evacuate soldiers guarding the tomb of Suleyman Shah, grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

Turkish officials say tanks and other heavy weaponry entered Syria through the border city of Kobani, which Syrian Kurdish fighters retook last month after fierce battles with the Islamic State.

The officials say the mission was successful, with the troops brought back to Turkey.  They note that one soldier was killed in an accident.

The tomb, which is about 35 kilometers into Syria in Aleppo Province, is on Turkish territory based on a treaty signed in 1921.

Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the tomb will be moved to a different site in Syria closer to the Turkish border.

Turkey’s government said last year that Islamic State militants were advancing on the tomb, which is guarded by several dozen Turkish soldiers.

Suleyman Shah was the grandfather of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire.  He is believed to have drowned in the Euphrates River in what is now modern-day Syria. 

Turkish media say the operation started late Saturday and continued into Sunday.  It was conducted with the help of Syrian Kurds.

On Friday, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu denied claims that Turkish troops guarding the Suleyman Shah tomb had been taken hostage by Islamic State fighters.
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