Residents hold 1st Friday prayers after PKK/YPG terrorists' expulsion from Syria's Tel Rifaat

By Anadolu Staff

TEL RIFAAT, Syria (AA) – Residents of Tel Rifaat in northern Syria held their first Friday prayers after the town was liberated from the PKK/YPG terrorist group as part of the Syrian National Army’s (SNA) Operation Dawn of Freedom.

The operation, launched on Dec. 1 in Aleppo's countryside, reclaimed the town center and surrounding villages, allowing displaced people to return to their homes.

People who had safely returned to their homes rejoiced as they offered their Friday prayers at a local mosque.

Before the prayers, SNA forces conducted security sweeps throughout the mosque. Dozens of Muslim faithful gathered to offer the first Friday prayers in the town, which has been cleared of terrorists.

Clashes between Syrian regime forces and anti-regime groups broke out on Nov. 27 in Aleppo’s western countryside.

By Nov. 30, the anti-regime forces had seized control of the majority of Aleppo's city center and established dominance across Idlib province.

On Dec. 1, the opposition Syrian National Army launched Operation Dawn of Freedom against the PKK/YPG terror group in the Tel Rifaat district of Aleppo's countryside, liberating the area from terrorist elements.​