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A Turkish group related to Turkey's religious authority has restored and repaired 108 mosques in areas of Syria damaged by terrorists, it announced Wednesday.
The Turkish Diyanet Foundation (TDV) -- affiliated with Turkey’s Religious Affair Directorate -- has plans to restore 160 more mosques damaged by YPG/PKK terrorists, it added.
In its Operation Euphrates Shield which ended in March 2017, Turkey cleared the northern Syrian regions of Jarablus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, and Azaz of YPG/PKK terrorists.
Multiple attacks killed at least 100 people and wounded 78 others in Sweida and villages northeast of the Syrian city, the head of the health authority told state-run Ikhbariyah TV.A suicide bomber blew himself up near a marketplace in the city early on Wednesday, as Daesh terrorists mounted attacks on several villages to the northeast.State media said authorities were hunting down terrorists in the city.Daesh said in a statement that it had carried out the attacks.the seemingly coordinated attacks were the deadliest to hit government territory in many months. Northeast of Sweida city, Daesh launched simultaneous attacks on several villages where they clashed with government forces, state media and the Observatory said.In the city itself, at least two attackers blew themselves up, one near a marketplace and the second in another district, state television said. State news agency SANA said two other Daesh terrorists were killed before they could detonate their bombs.
Death toll tops 100 in Daesh attacks on Syria's Sweida
Ordinary Syrians and local religious leaders welcomed and praised the foundation’s restoration and repair work.
“We're so glad that Turkey has given due attention to our religious places and rituals,” Ahmet Yasin, a religious leader in Azez, told Anadolu Agency. “We're very grateful to the foundation and Turkey.”
The Turkish military on Tuesday conducted its 19th round of patrols in the northern Syrian city of Manbij as part of a deal with the U.S. to rid the area of the terror group YPG/PKK. In a written statement, the Turkish General Staff said forces of both countries coordinated patrols in the region between areas liberated by Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield and Manbij.The first patrols by Turkish and U.S. troops in the region began on June 18.Turkish army neutralizes 43 terrorists over past weekTraining for joint Turkey-US patrol to start: USThe Manbij deal between Turkey and the U.S. focuses on the withdrawal of the PKK-affiliated YPG terror group from the city in order to stabilize the region.In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK has taken some 40,000 lives, including many women and children. The YPG/PKK is its Syrian branch.Should the Manbij model prove a success, Turkey will push for a similar arrangement in eastern Syria.Turkey has said the presence of terror forces near its border constitutes a threat and has launched military operations and other efforts to rid the region of terrorists.
Turkish army conducts 19th round of patrols in Manbij
Hasan Ahmed, a muezzin who calls the faithful to prayer in al-Bab, said the mosques look almost as good as new.
“The carpets, broken windows, and even walls were fixed,” he added.