Turkish FM informs foreign counterparts about Süleyman ?ah evacuation

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu exchanged phone calls with his counterparts from the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Denmark, as well as NATO?s secretary-general, after the completion of the evacuation of the Tomb of Süleyman ?ah in Syria on Feb. 22.

Çavu?o?lu, speaking in Antalya on Feb. 22, said his foreign counterparts asked ?how Turkey managed to carry out this military operation and expressed admiration and respect.?

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke with Çavu?o?lu about ?Turkey?s successful overnight operation for the tomb, the State Department said in a written statement.

The U.S. and Turkey have been in close coordination on developments in Syria, including intelligence and information sharing, said the statement noting that Kerry expressed his condolences to Turkey and the family of Turkish soldier Halit Avc?, who died in an accident at the outset of the operation.

Turkey evacuated its military personnel protecting the tomb in northern Syria in an operation jointly conducted by the intelligence organization and the Turkish army launched late Feb. 21. Avc? was killed in an accident during the early hours of the operation.

The tomb, around 37 kilometers from the Turkish border, is regarded as Turkish territory by international agreements and was protected by around 40 soldiers.

Turkey has cordoned off a new area west of Kobane, about 180 meters from the Turkish border, to house the relocated tomb.