The fact that Turkey secured the release of 49 hostages from the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) without any bloodshed is undoubtedly a development that few foresaw. In three and a half months, ISIS relocated the hostages no less than eight times. Despite this, the new locations were determined and a distant atmosphere of negotiation was maintained. During this time officials were unable to estimate when the operation would take place but were able to give details on the condition of the hostages. This indicates that under any circumstance, Turkey gave precedence to the hostages' health and lives.The public today has an opportunity to learn yet another aspect of the story. The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) carried out the rescue operation and naturally withheld sensitive information. As we already know, the MİT had come close to executing the rescue plan five or six times but could not due to a variety of reasons. We don't know to what extent the operation planning included military involvement had it been necessary. However, it appears that Turkey preferred a peaceful operation.This picture reveals that Turkey's foreign policy has been consistent and highly successful. Turkey's participation in the wider anti-ISIS coalition while refusing to be a part of the core group undertaking military action is a reflection of Turkey's mandatory role as a "buffer" between the Middle East and the West. Had Turkey not adopted this stance, it would not have been possible to rescue to the hostage.This event also demonstrated the Turkish foreign policy of interacting and cooperating with social actors and local social powers directly rather than political actors is functioning well. It is obvious that in the last rescue operation, the Sunni tribes of the area took the real supporting role. The key importance of these tribes for ISIS's progress is a known secret. Otherwise it would not have been possible for a military power of roughly 10,000 strong to take control of the cities with over hundreds of thousands of people living in them almost without firing any weapons. ISIS has gained strength as a consequence of the social indifference from former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Sunni tribes paved the way for ISIS in order to get rid of Maliki and expand their own political power and ability to maneuver. Actions carried out by ISIS were probably not approved by Iraqi Sunnis either, however, in the power vacuum created by the withdrawal of U.S. troops Iraqi politics has long been reduced to balance acts and a struggle to survive. Sunni tribes did not hesitate to take advantage of the situation and act against the central Iraqi government once the opportunity presented itself. The Turkish hostage evacuation strategy successfully involved getting the favor of local religious leaders. In the end, Turkey made ISIS an offer "that could not be turned down." Simply because we are faced with the fact that no local force in the Middle East can prevail while opposing Russia, Iran and Turkey at once. For any Sunni group, success without the consent of Turkey is a dream because the necessary balance is impossible to obtain without it.There is much for the West to learn from these events. For any strategy to be effective in the region, the faster the West realizes it has to act in accordance with the Turkey-Iran axis, the better.