Turkey warns Syria of attacks on tomb

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ANKARA, Turkey, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- The Turkish government warned Syria that any attacks on the tomb of Suleyman Sah will be considered attacks on Turkish soil.

"The tomb of Suleyman Sah [in Syria] and the land surrounding it is our territory," said Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We cannot ignore any unfavorable act against that monument, as it would be an attack on our territory, as well as an attack on NATO land."

Hurriyet Daily News reported the tomb, located north of Qal'at Ja'bar, is guarded by a retinue of Turkish soldiers. The tomb is located about 15 miles away from the border between Turkey and Syria.

Suleyman Sah was the grandfather of Osman Bey, founder of the Ottoman Empire. Sah is said to have drowned in 1236 in the Euphrates River in Syria.

Sah's tomb is considered Turkish territory in accordance with Article 9 of the 1921 Treaty of Ankara between France and Turkey, in which Turkey acknowledged France's rule of Syria at the time, which now covers modern day Syria and Lebanon.