Before the 'Peace Spring Operation' started; it was stated that the Turkish Armed Forces would not target civilians, historical / cultural / religious structures and harm the environment. As in the Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch Operations, these principles were never compromised during the execution of the operations at the expense of delays in operations," The ministry said.

Reminding that before the Operation started, the PKK / YPG and its supporters put forward the claims that Turkish forces would destroy Kurdish people, and that other ethnic and religious groups, especially Christians, the ministry said:

"They attempted to conceal their crimes against humanity from the world. However, in the Operation Peace Spring, the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) unmasked the PKK / YPG and its supporters, and it was revealed that the YPG/PKK made a church in Tel Abyad a mortar emplacement and that they hung the posters of Abdullah Öcalan in some of the churches."
The statement concluded as follows:

"Today, when we look at the photographs of the churches in Tel Abyad and Rasulayn, it is clear that they have not been damaged in any way during the 'Operation Peace Spring'. Our soldiers in the region closely care about all ethnic and religious structures, and great effort is made to meet all their needs, including the needs arising from the pre-operation period." (ILKHA)