Soldier killed in Turkish tomb operation laid to rest

TRABZON

DHA Photo

A soldier who died in an accident during the Turkish army’s operation to evacuate a historic tomb in northern Syria has been laid to rest in his hometown, the Black Sea province of Trabzon.

Sgt. Maj. Halit Avcı, who was on duty as an army photographer, died just before the operation started when a tank hatch fell on his head in the late hours of Feb. 21, his father, Mustafa Avcı, told daily Hürriyet.

The soldier was laid to rest in Trabzon after a military ceremony in Trabzon’s Maçka district with the attendance of dozens of authorities, including Customs and Trade Minister Nurettin Canikli.

According to the man’s father, the solider died when the roughly 50-kilogram hatch fell on his head due to a bump in the road as he was taking photographs.

“There is nothing to say,” Avcı said. “My son was heathy as a lion.”

The late soldier’s wife, Şöhret Avcı, is reportedly due to give birth to a boy, adding to the grief of the family, who have been accepting condolences at their home.

“His child will be born in 15 days. He won’t be able to see the happiness of his child. What should I say?” he said.

Early on Feb. 22, Turkey evacuated its military personnel protecting the Tomb of Süleyman Şah in northern Syria in an operation jointly conducted by the intelligence organization and the Turkish army.