On Saturday evening, the Turkish government launched Operation Shah Euphrates to evacuate nearly 40 members of the Special Forces stationed at the Tomb of Süleyman Shah and Memorial Outpost, a sovereign exclave located approximately 40 kilometers south of the Turkish-Syrian border. Pending the construction of a new facility near Ashmeh, Syria, they also repatriated the remains of the grandfather of Osman Gazi, the founder of the Ottoman Empire, along with ancient relics dating back to the 13th century. The tomb was recognized as a sovereign exclave under the 1921 Treaty of Ankara between Turkey and France, which ruled Syria at the time. Upon gaining independence, the Syrian government did not challenge the status of the Turkish exclave, which was relocated twice – first in 1939 and then 1975 – due to the construction of hydroelectric dams on the Euphrates.The operation, the successful completion of which will help to prevent acts of provocation that might have dragged the country into a bloody war with no end in sight, not only showcased the government's operational capabilities, but also illustrated that the country is willing to take a tougher stance on Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) terrorism.This weekend's military operation, which entailed the largest movement of Turkish troops since the cross-border campaigns of the past decade, took place just days after Turkey and the U.S., its strategic partner in Middle East matters, signed an agreement to jointly train and equip moderate Syrian opposition fighters. "We notified the International Coalition and local groups including the Free Syrian Army regarding the operation in order to prevent civilian casualties," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said at a joint press conference with Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Necdet Özel, who confirmed that Operation Shah Euphrates represented part of a broader road map as opposed to an isolated event.Moreover, the government's decision to take such a major step inherently implies that ISIS represents a top-level threat to the country's national security. As such, Operation Shah Euphrates represents a pre-emptive strike by the authorities to discourage terrorist attacks and threats by ISIS militants, as well as to protect Turkish lives and defend its soil. By assuming a proactive stance toward the terrorists, Turkey distinguished itself from regional players like Jordan and Egypt, whose involvement in the anti-ISIS struggle has stemmed from reaction rather than strategic priorities. The successful completion of the operation is furthermore testament to the government's operational capabilities, which had become evident in September 2014, when the National Intelligence Agency (MİT) rescued 49 consular staff previously stationed at the Turkish Consulate in Mosul, Iraq.In light of Operation Shah Euphrates, it is possible to suggest that Turkey, which has consistently spoken out in favor of eliminating both ISIS and the atrocious regime of Bashar Assad – the root cause of terrorist activities across the region – has decided to become more active in the ongoing international campaign, while continuing to safeguard its national interests. Having paid a heavy price as a result of ISIS terrorism not only in terms of national security, but also in the area of humanitarian aid, the government has ostensibly removed a soft spot that would have crippled its future endeavors against ISIS terrorism.