Operation Shah Euphrates

Operation Shah Euphrates (Turkish: Şah Fırat Operasyonu) was an operation by the Turkish military to relocate the tomb of Suleyman Shah in Syria conducted on 21/22 February 2015. The tomb, which was positioned inside Turkey's only foreign enclave,[1] had been surrounded by self proclaimed Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) forces for over 4 months.[2]

Operation Shah Euphrates
Part of Foreign Involvement in the Syrian Civil War, Turkey–ISIL conflict and Turkish military intervention in Syria
Location
Aleppo, Syria

36°N 38°E / 36; 38
Commanded by Gen. Necdet Ozel
Date22 February 2015
Executed by Turkey
Outcome
  • Tomb of Süleyman Shah was transferred
  • Turkish soldiers were evacuated
Casualties1 soldier (non-combat)
The tomb in 1921.

On the night of 21–22 February 2015, a Turkish military convoy including tanks and other armored vehicles numbering about 100 entered Syria to evacuate the tomb's 40 guards and relocate the remains. One soldier died during the operation. The tomb complex was destroyed to prevent its use by ISIS.

The tomb is now located in Turkish-controlled territory 200 meters inside Syria, 22 km (14 mi) west of Ayn al-Arab and 5 km (3.1 mi) east of the Euphrates, less than 2 km (1.2 mi) southeast of the Turkish village of Esmesi (Esmeler or Esme or Eshme) that is in southernmost Birecik District.

Prime Minister of Turkey at the time, Ahmet Davutoglu said that later a new tomb will be constructed in Syrian territory.

References
  1. Akkoc, Raziye. "Who is Suleyman Shah and why is his tomb so important?". Telegraph. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. Kiford, Chris (2 March 2015). "Operation Shah Euphrates -- a short military analysis". Today's Zarman. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
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