ÊLVÎN MIHEMED

Kobanê (Kobani)- Since the attacks on Manbij on December 8, 2024, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed armed groups have intensified their attacks and threats on the city of  Kobanê. Due to the attacks, the Tishreen Dam is out of service, causing people to suffer from water and power outages.

Despite the ongoing attacks, the people of northeastern Syria resist and defend their lands. The citizens of Kobanê have been defending their city for days despite the ongoing water and power outages. At any opportunity, the people of Kobanê say that they are determined to resist to the end, to protect their lands and dignity and that they support the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

‘We will resist to the end’

“We will always support the YPG (People's Defense Units) and the SDF,” said Fatmê Xelîl, one of the women in Kobanê. “We condemn the ongoing Turkish attacks. We have a strong will that cannot be broken by anyone. The Turkish state aims to enslave the Kurds, but we will never allow this. We will resist to the end against those who try to occupy our city.”

Fatmê Xelîl drew attention to the resistance that has been going on for 16 days on the Qereqozaq Bridge. “The YPJ (Women's Defense Units), YPG and SDF fighters have been resisting the attacks of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed armed groups for 16 days not to allow the enemy to enter our lands. Everyone knows that they took control of Aleppo in 24 hours. They also took control of Damascus. We will never allow our fate to be like theirs. We will protect us and defend our lands. Those who do not recognize the SDF should look at how the fighters defend their region on the Qereqozaq Bridge. Our cemetery is now bigger than our city because our fighters defend their lands by risking their lives.”

‘The Turkish state will be defeated in Kobanê’

Fatmê Xelîl concluded her speech by talking about the ongoing water and power outages in the city. “The Turkish attacks aim to depopulate the city. But its attacks cannot intimidate us; we will always support the YPG, YPJ and SDF fighters. ISIS was defeated in Kobanê and the Turkish state will be defeated in Kobanê. As women of Kobanê, we will resist to the end.”

‘We will thwart the attacks of the Turkish state and its armed groups’

Nisrîn Yûsif, another woman of Kobanê, also condemned the attacks of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed armed groups on North and East Syria. “The Turkish state must know very well that we will never leave our homeland. The Turkish state attacks the critical civilian infrastructure to displace us. We will never leave our homeland even if we are left without bread, water and power. We will resist for our homeland to the end. We will thwart the attacks of the Turkish state and its armed groups by supporting our fighters. We will resist like we resisted ISIS in Kobanê.”