Operation decision made in a ‘secure room’

Turkey carried out another masterful operation yesterday, this time concerning the Süleyman Şah mausoleum codenamed “Şah Fırat” that left the world astonished, following the one it carried out previously to rescue 49 of its citizens held by ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) without a single drop of blood being shed.

This operation carried out by Turkey in Syrian territory delivers significant messages concerning regional balances and the outside world.

Due to the limitations of this being a column I don’t want to focus on what these messages are but rather on events during the evening when the operation took place and events that unfolded behind the scenes.

The decision to launch the operation, which was conducted in secrecy, was taken in the “secure room” at the Presidential Palace. Measures were taken to prevent any leaks and the operation was conducted in total secrecy.

After the decision was made to proceed, many aspects, ranging from the presence of ISIL forces to weather conditions, were carefully monitored.

GREEN LIGHT WAS IMMINENT

The decision to conduct the operation was made two months previously. It was due to this that the rotation of personnel stationed at the Süleyman Şah outpost scheduled for end of December or early January was postponed. It was due to this that the six monthly staff rotation became eight months. But provision of goods and foodstuff was not affected. The Land Forces Command took responsibility for the operation. Land Forces Commander Gen. Hulusi Akar was in charge of planning the operation. The Air Force was tasked with the important duty of providing support. It took two months to plan and conduct the operation. All teams were on alert for the last 10 days and the green light could have been given at any time in that period. Strict measures were in place though to prevent any leaks.

SPECIAL UNITS INFILTRATED IN LOCAL GARB

Specially trained units infiltrated into Syria three days prior to the operation. The special units opted to wear civilian local clothing. Our locally-dressed and armed units secured the route before the operation commenced. Once they sent the “area clear” message to Ankara, the date and time of the operation was decided. Our special units took up position and took measures in critical areas to prevent any attacks against our units during the operation.

FIGHTER JETS AIRBORNE

The Şah Fırat operation commenced at 2100 and ended at 0445. Our armored units and Air Force were in complete coordination during the operation in Syrian territory.

F-16 jets and AWACS, early warning and control aircraft, constantly monitored the convoy from above. Refueling aircraft were kept airborne. Meanwhile, helicopter crews were on full alert for immediate action and pilots were on standby in their cockpits.

WHAT WAS THE MESSAGE SENT TO PYD AND ISIL?

Coalition forces and regional elements the PYD (Democratic Union Party) and ISIL were informed prior to the operation’s launch. To be more precise, ISIL and the PYD were given a serious warning. So, what was the message sent to the PYD and ISIL?

“We will launch a full-blown attack at the slightest movement.”

The PYD and ISIL didn’t move an inch throughout the operation.

So, what was happening in Ankara during that time?

MINUTE-BY-MINUTE FOLLOW UP IN ANKARA

The operation was visually monitored in full from the Operations Center of the Chief of General Staff.

The operations center at the Chief of General Staff Headquarters is two levels below ground and has been designed to direct all war operations while being able to withstand all types of bombings. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and a limited number of prime ministerial staff were present at the operations center. On the military side, Chief of Staff Gen. Necdet Özel monitored the operation alongside the prime minister. Land Forces Commander Gen. Hulusi Akar was the busiest man at headquarters since it was a ground operation. His drawn-out face in photos published indicates that he spent a few sleepless nights planning the operation. The commander of the Air Force was also an active member of operation planning due to the support role of his command.

The invisible presence during the operation was MIT (National Intelligence Service.) The MIT, which provided a flow of information from the field prior to the operation, also provided active support during the operation based on its contacts in the field.

TWO SIMULTANEOUS FEEDS

Thanks to the video feed provided by our drones, the operation was followed live from the General Staff’s operations center. A live feed was established with the operations center the minute our armored vehicles crossed the border. One screen showed our units en route to the target while another screen beamed images of the Süleyman Şah outpost. The vicinity of the Süleyman Şah mausoleum was being monitored for any unexpected movement while our units were advancing.

PRIME MINISTER FOLLOWED IT MINUTE-BY-MINUTE

The prime minister, who arrived at the General Staff Headquarters in the evening, went to the operations room the moment the operation commenced. Prime Minister Davutoğlu, who spent the evening with soldiers, asked questions on occasion and also gave his evaluations about the region. Our units that crossed the border at 2100 reached the Süleyman Şah mausoleum at 0030. It was at this time that Prime Minister Davutoğlu, who had visited the mausoleum in 2007 when he was chief advisor to the prime minister, shared his information about the mausoleum with the soldiers present. Having visited the region previously, the prime minister shared his views about the route in and out used by our units.

PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN GIVEN UPDATES

The moment the operation, conducted in total secrecy, commenced Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu informed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Prime Minister Davutoğlu also called the president and informed him when the last of our units crossed back into the country. Upon successful completion of the operation, President Erdoğan called Chief of General Staff Özel and Prime Minister Davutoğlu and congratulated them.

PRIME MINISTER MADE FIRST CALL

The first person to call our soldiers posted to protect the Süleyman Şah mausoleum when their convoy crossed over into Turkey and congratulate them was Prime Minister Davutoğlu.

Prime Minister Davutoğlu called Commander Oğuzhan, commander of the Süleyman Şah outpost, at 0445 on the phone told him, “Welcome Major Oğuzhan.”

TO BE BURIED IN QAL’AT JA’BAR

The Süleyman Şah tomb was relocated close to the Turkish border because its original location was under threat due to the presence of ISIL in the region.

In this manner Turkey managed to,

1-Show the entire world that it is capable of conducting an operation in Syria.

2- Negated any plans to draw Turkey into an uncontrolled conflict by attacking the Süleyman Şah mausoleum, which is the country’s only enclave outside its borders.

3- The Şah Fırat operation resulted in the negation of the possibility of a raid similar to the one on our consulate in Mosul that was being threatened by ISIL.

4- The Süleyman Şah mausoleum, which has been relocated twice before in the past, was yet again relocated to the village of Eşme in Syria.

5- Once conditions are back to normal, the Süleyman Şah mausoleum will be moved close to its original location near Qal’at Ja’bar.

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