BERÇEM CÛDÎ

Raqqa- The Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions have been intensifying their attacks on North and East Syria since October 5, 2023. Until now, 48 people, including two children, have been killed and dozens have been wounded in these attacks. 104 oil fields, energy supplies, health centers, water resources and gas stations have been destroyed by the attacks, according to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

‘The revolution was not built easily’

The Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD) has carried out dozens of counterattacks. In an interview with NuJINHA, Zozan Brûsk, one of the commanders of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ), spoke about the ongoing Turkish attacks on NE Syria. “The revolution was not built easily,” she said, “We built this revolution by paying heavy prices and thanks to our martyrs, our people, leader Apo (Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan).”

‘We face a genocide’

In her speech, Zozan Brûsk emphasized that the women's revolution gave them the courage to fight the oppression, attacks and massacres faced by women and the people. “We know the aim of the Turkish state and ISIS. Everyone knows that the recent attacks on Manbij, Deir ez-Zor and Ayn Issa have been carried out with the help of ISIS. The cooperation between the Turkish state and ISIS is now obvious. The attacks on our region are carried out by two forces. Of course, the people, especially women, are aware of this. Therefore, we cannot evaluate the current attacks as a massacre or extraordinary attacks. These attacks are a genocide against our people. The methods used by the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions beyond the principles and rules of war.”

‘It has become a source of struggle for all women’

Emphasized that the revolution in North and East Syria has become a source of struggle for all women, Zozan Brûsk said:

“The revolution has become a role model for the Middle East and the whole world. Today, the women of Sweida rise up against the regime, demanding freedom. They are impressed by this revolution. In North and East Syria, women fought all kinds of genocidal attacks and led the revolution. If they had not fought genocidal attacks and led the revolution, the women of Sweida would not rise up and demand freedom today. We salute the women's struggle for freedom. We will always support women demanding freedom because we are a party to this struggle. The common struggle of women reveals the unity, will and power of women.”

‘The killing of women is an attack on us’

Many women and children were killed in Turkish airstrikes on October 5. “In Ayn Issa, children aged 9-10 and women were directly targeted. As the YPJ, we see the killing of women as a direct attack on us. Their aim is to destroy the gains of the revolution and women.”

‘Women should be a party to this revolution and this resistance’

“The YPJ is the army and power of women,” Zozan Brûsk said, “We will protect our existence, our achievements, our revolution and women as we promised to women and our people. We call on all women to be a party to this revolution and this resistance.”