Turkey reopens churches, mosques in northern Syria

The Turkish Defense Ministry released a video Tuesday showing reopening of mosques and churches in Syria's northern towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ayn.

After repairing damage done by YPG/PKK terrorists who until recently occupied the region, Turkey has returned mosques and churches in northern Syria to the service of worshipers.

"Our heroic soldiers show respect for all beliefs and values, and are the guarantee of freedom," the ministry said on Twitter.

"Turks, Kurds, Arabs, we are all Muslims. We want our people to come back," a worshipper said in the video after weekly Friday prayers in Tal Abyad's Iman Mosque.

The footage showed that the Assyrian Orthodox Church and Siral Catholic Church in Ras al-Ayn as well as the Armenian Orthodox Church in Tal Abyad were currently open to worship after being liberated from YPG/PKK terrorists by Turkey's recent anti-terror operation in the region.

"We are very happy and glad. We came here to pray and perform our Sunday service. Thank God, there is no problem. We are free," an Orthodox woman said.

Turkey launched Operation Peace Spring on Oct. 9 to eliminate YPG/PKK terrorists from northern Syria in order to secure Turkey’s borders, aid in the safe return of Syrian refugees and ensure Syria’s territorial integrity.

On Oct. 22, Turkey reached an agreement with Russia on a 10-point deal to force the terrorist YPG/PKK to withdraw from a planned terror-free zone.

In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the European Union -- has been responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.