Heroic epics hold a special place in the memories of residents, but in Kobani’s 134-day resistance, the city preserved the memories and impacts of the struggle, keeping them alive and ever-present.

 

On 15 September 2014, ISIS mercenaries, posing a major threat to humanity, attacked Kobani in the northeast of Syria from three fronts, mobilizing every means to seize control. But what happened next?

 

Victory day

 

Fighters of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), alongside the women and youth of Kobani from across Kurdistan, defended the city, repelling the attack over 134 heroic days and protecting resilient Kobani.

 

Victory Day, 26 January 2015, marked the triumph of the legendary resistance, revealing the courage of the era’s Kurdish heroines and heroes. The battle had been so fierce that the city lay in ruins, yet its people, devoted to their land, rebuilt it with pride and dignity.

 

To preserve this legacy and commemorate the resistance, the most devastated area was transformed into a museum. Located on Kobani’s Jamarek Street near the North Kurdistan border, the museum allows visitors to witness the heroism firsthand and feel its profound impact.

 

Messages on walls

 

Walking through the Resistance Museum in Kobani, among destroyed homes, collapsed buildings, and remnants of war—guns, shells, and debris—visitors are struck by an overwhelming sense of awe. One naturally wonders: what kind of faith and determination did those who fought and triumphed here possess? The answer is unmistakably visible throughout the museum. The writings on the walls—many left by martyrs—the stones that withstood relentless attacks, the flowers that grew amid the ruins, the tree roots that regrew after losing their branches and leaves, and the grass and birds that found shelter together—all speak to the resilience and courage that defined Kobani’s defense.

 

A harsh autumn turned into spring

 

The harsh autumn of 2014 that struck Kobani has transformed into a lasting spring, where seeds of hope and the dreams of thousands of heroes took root across the city. At the Resistance Museum, a mural adorned with the marks of the Children of Fire and Sun, brings their legacy and struggle vividly to life.