Gülen expresses condolences for Turkish soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Today's Zaman

Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen has expressed condolences to families of 12 soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan last week, saying that the soldiers were there to help restore peace in the war-torn country.

A Turkish military helicopter crashed into a house near the Afghan capital last Friday, killing 12 Turkish soldiers on board and four Afghan civilians on the ground.

It was by far the deadliest incident involving Turkish soldiers in Afghanistan, where they have a noncombat role.

The helicopter, a Sikorsky, was on a mission for US-led NATO forces when it went down near Kabul, the Turkish military said in a statement.

Gülen said the Turkish soldiers, who fought tooth and nail against terrorism for years, has been serving in friendly and brotherly country Afghanistan to restore peace, who has always been siding with Turkey during its dire times.

He added that service of Turkish soldiers in the region is also noteworthy.

Turkey has about 1,800 troops in Afghanistan and leads NATO operations in Kabul province. The force has suffered relatively few casualties because of its noncombat role.

In 2009, two Turkish soldiers, one of them a colonel, were killed in a traffic accident in northern Afghanistan.

Published on Today's Zaman, 19 March 2012, Monday