By Halil Fidan

AFRIN

Children forced out of school by YPG/PKK terrorists were overjoyed to return to their classrooms in Afrin, northwestern Syria, two years later.

Turkey has undertaken a school renovation project in Afrin where a counter-terror operation is ongoing.

The Kecioren district Municipality of Turkey’s capital Ankara has completed renovation of a school in a village. The municipality spearheaded a similar project in Jarabulus, Syria in the wake of Turkey's Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016-early 2017.

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Syrian children return to their school in Afrin

AFRIN, SYRIA - MARCH 26: Syrian school children holding Turkish flags, are seen at their school backyard al-Caviz village after Turkish Armed Forces and Free Syrian Army (FSA) took complete control of northwestern Syria's Afrin from PKK/KCK/PYD-YPG and Daesh terror groups within the "Operation Olive Branch" on March 26, 2018. Syrian children have returned to their classrooms after two years as they were not able to continue their education because of the terrorists groups' restriction. ( Halil Fidan - Anadolu Agency )

26.03.2018 Halil Fidan

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The walls, floors and playgrounds of the school have been repaired, and chairs and desks replaced.

“The children have not gone to school for two years due to the pressures of the PYD/PKK terrorist organization,” Uday Ibrahim, a teacher, told Anadolu Agency.

Terrorists had forced schools to teach the Latin alphabets instead of Arabic, and so Arab villagers has pulled their children out of schools.

"We thank Turkey for reopening our schools and saving us from terrorists here," said Seyma el-Hasan, an 11-year-old student.

Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch on Jan. 20 to clear YPG/PKK and Daesh terrorist groups from Afrin.

On March 18, Turkish-backed troops liberated the town of Afrin, which had been a major hideout for the PYD/PKK since 2012.

The operation is being carried out under the framework of Turkey's rights based on international law, UN Security Council resolutions, its self-defense rights under the UN charter, and respect for Syria's territorial integrity, according to the Turkish military.

The military also said only terror targets are being destroyed and "utmost care" is being taken to not harm civilians.