Turkey informs anti-ISIL coalition of Süleyman ?ah operation on Syrian soil

Turkey informed the international coalition combatting extremist jihadists in Syria of its ??ah F?rat? operation to evacuate the Tomb of Süleyman ?ah right immediately after mobilization began, the Turkish prime minister has said.

?The decision for the operation has been taken in Ankara and in line with legal framework as the necessity of rule of law. We implemented the authority given by parliament through the motion [to deploy troops in Syria]. No permission or cooperation was sought from any foreign parties. Once this decision was made and the instructions given, the Turkish Armed Forces ... fulfilled its duty,? Davuto?lu said at a press conference he held early Feb. 22 with Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Özel and Defense Minister ?smet Y?lmaz.

Davuto?lu said the government communicated with groups inside Syria, including the Free Syrian Army, in order to avoid civilian casualties during the operation but did not cite the Democratic Union Party (PYD) which controls the area from which the Turkish army crossed over border to evacuate the troops protecting the Tomb of Süleyman ?ah. The Turkish government views the PYD with deep suspicion because of its ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers? Party (PKK).

?All parties were fully aware that any intervention or blockage of this operation would have received the harshest response,? Davuto?lu said, underlining that they would have never hesitated to use the deterrence capacity of the Turkish army if anyone had interfered with the operation.

A PYD official said late Feb. 21 that the Turkish army sought cooperation of their armed forces before the operation started as the group controls the Kobane region.

Started at 9 pm, ended at 6 am

Davuto?lu also provided some...