News Center- The Women's Defense Units (YPJ) was founded by the revolutionary and unyielding women, uniting all people in North and East Syria. This unity paved the way for the women’s revolution thanks to the legacy of many women such as Zarîfe, Besê, Rindêxan, Gulîzar, Qedemxêr, Hepsexan, Mîna Qazî, Leyla Qasim, Zîlan, Bêrîtan and Sara.

Two young women wrote history in Kobanê when Erdoğan said, “Kobanê has fallen, it will fall”. These two women were Arîn Mirkan and Rêvana Rojava. These two women made the resistance in Kobanê heard all around the world by carrying out suicide actions against ISIS.

Arîn Mirkan (born Dilara Kînç) was born on January 1, 1992 in Mîrkan, also known as Hesî, village of Afrin’s Mabeta district. She completed her primary and secondary education in her village. Since she grew up in a patriotic family, she knew the reality of Kurdistan. In 2007, she joined the Kurdish Freedom Movement.

Arîn Mirkan fought in Kobanê

Arîn Mirkan took part in the foundation of the YPJ on April 4, 2013. On September 5, 2014, ISIS militants reached the Mishtenur hill, a strategic hilltop in Kobanê. Arîn Mirkan fought on the front line against ISIS to defend Kobanê. On October 5, 2024, she carried out a suicide action against ISIS. Her resistance was crowned with the liberation of Kobanê on January 26, 2015.

Rêvana Rojava used her body as a shield

Rêvana Rojava (born Medîne Mamo) was born in the village of Xanika Xeliyan, east of Kobanê. In 2013, she joined the YPJ. Inspired by the resistance and struggle of Zilan (Zeynep Kınacı), Rêvana Rojava had been a fighter for a year when ISIS attacked Kobanê in September 2014.

On September 27, 2014, ISIS intensified its attacks on Kobanê. On the same day, Rêvana Rojava, along with her comrades, fought against ISIS in the village of Golmid, south of Kobanê. When the fighters ran out of ammunition due to heavy and intense attacks, they had no chance excepting bringing ammunition from elsewhere. At that time, Rêvana Rojava decided to carry out a suicide action to protect the fighters and Kobanê and to prevent ISIS from entering the center of Kobanê. She used her body as a shield.

The legacy of resistance of Arîn and Rêvana has been maintained in North and East Syria by women.