Published on : Sunday, March 16, 2014
“Any attack against the tomb, either from the regime or from radical groups, will be likewise responded. And Turkey will take all necessary measures to defend its territories,” Davutoglu said in a joint press conference.
The Tomb of Suleyman Shah, located in the city of Aleppo, is considered as Turkish territory according to the Treaty of Ankara, which was clinched between France and Turkey in 1921. The 25 km area is now guarded by Turkish soldiers and flies the Turkish flag.
Suleyman Shah was the grandfather of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, which was established at the end of the 13th century and fell down in 1922.
The foreign minister’s remarks came after local media reported that Turkey has put its military forces on alert against any attack threat from al-Qaida affiliated groups to the tomb.
In case of any attack, the Turkish soldiers on guard around the tomb are ready to respond, local TV quoted the Turkish military sources as saying.
Tags: Turkey to take all precautions to protect historic Tomb