GAZIANTEP, Turkey

Turkey is set to open sports facilities in regions of Syria rid of terrorists by the Turkish-led Operation Euphrates Shield, said state youth and sports officials on Tuesday.

A football pitch in Al-Bab, Syria has already gone into service, to the delight of locals, said a statement by the Provincial Youth Services and Sports Directorate in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey.

Various sports facilities are being established for young people in the regions of Jarablus, Al-Bab, Bizaah, and Kabasin as coordinated by the Youth and Sports Ministry, the statement added.

Okkes Demir, provincial youth and sports director, stated that the ministry continues to pursue projects to enable Syrian young people to have access to sports and artistic and social-cultural activities.

"For artistic and social-cultural activities, we will open four container youth centers in Jarablus," he added.

In its Operation Euphrates Shield which began in August 2016 and ended in March 2017, Turkey cleared the northern Syrian regions of Jarablus, Al-Rai, Al-Bab, and Azaz of YPG/PKK terrorists.

Reporting by Zuhal Kocalar: Writing by Meryem Goktas