What follows is a joint article with Michael Stephens, the Research Fellow for Middle East studies and Head of RUSI Qatar.

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Just days after finalizing an agreement to train a new rebel force inside Turkey to attack the Islamic State, Turkish forces moved into Syria to evacuate some 40 soldiers protecting the Suleyman Shah Tomb: a small Turkish enclave on the eastern bank of the Euphrates river, 30 kilometers from the Turkish border town of Karkamis. The operation included 39 tanks, 57 armored vehicles, and an estimated 572 military personnel. The soldiers removed the body of Suleyman Shah and transported his remains to an area just opposite the Turkish town of Esmeler.

#SuleymanShahtomb relocated twice in history. New location of the Tomb: Eshme village in #Syria #Turkey pic.twitter.com/eCeMPdVLQO

— CNN Türk ENG (@CNNTURK_ENG) February 22, 2015

The tomb lies on the M4 highway that runs West-East…