NEWS CENTER – People’s Defense Unit (YPG) General Command has issued a written statement on the 8th anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê.
The statement said:
“We are welcoming the 8th historical anniversary of the liberation of the city of Kobanê. We celebrate this day to all our heroes who fought hand to hand against ISIS gangs with self-sacrificing spirit and international responsibility and became martyrs. At the same time, we congratulate Leader Apo, the peoples of Kobanê, Kurdistan and the world for this historic victory. Kobanê, the place where the spark of the revolution was first lit, is known for its patriotism and courage. It has been subjected to many violent attacks since the first years of the Rojava Revolution. The largest and most serious attack took place on September 15, 2014. The ISIS terrorist gangs prepared by the invading Turkish state from all sides, just as they attacked Shengal and committed massacres by blindly believing in Islam, turned their direction to Kobanê in the same way, even with a stronger preparation. They wanted to avenge their defeat in Shengal by occupying Kobanê and thus to extinguish the light of the revolution.
‘The people of Bakure Kurdistan also formed a circle of support and resistance around Kobanê’
The attack on Kobanê took place at a time when countries from Iraq to Syria and all over the world were helpless against the brutality of ISIS. ISIS carried out great massacres and genocides in any city it captured, without any force in front of it. So it posed a great threat to the whole world. With this anger, he turned his direction to Kobanê. But he faced human shields in Kobanê. It was met with the historical resistance of YPJ-YPG fighters and the anger of the people of Kobanê. Just as ISIS gangs surrounded Kobanê from four sides, the people of Bakure Kurdistan formed a circle of support and resistance around Kobanê. Young men and women from Bakur, Rojhilat and Bashure Kurdistan gave their direction to this heavy war.
‘Kobanê resistance became a bridge between oppressed peoples’
Dozens of epics were written in every street of Kobanê. This epic made all the peoples of the world take to the streets and hundreds of internationalist youth joined the Rojava Revolution. In other words, the Kobanê resistance became a bridge between the oppressed peoples of the Middle East and the world and built a universal spirit. The spirit that lived in Kobanê was the spirit of the revolutionary people’s war. This spirit triumphed at the most critical and dangerous moment. The laughter of the warriors and the songs of the heroes and the anger felt against the words “Kobanê will fall” took the breath of the gangs. Thus, the historical breaking of the ISIS gangs began.
Undoubtedly, it was won with the effort, sacrifice and heroism of our martyred comrades and wounded, such as Rêvan Rojava, Arîn and Gelhat, who keep this historical victory and resistance of Kobanê alive in their souls today. We are all grateful for these precious sacred efforts.
Today, all Northern and Eastern Syria, especially Kobanê, are faced with the same danger. The invading Turkish state is preparing for possible ground operations by organizing air strikes as a result of alliances with regional and international powers. Since November 19, 2022, our regions are faced with the new concept of attack. The attacks pose the risk of a resurgence of ISIS. Along with the attack in the city of Raqqa at the beginning of the year, ISIS’ attempts to attack and new massacres were seen. SDF organized new operations in line with these foundations.
‘We will herald the freedom of our occupied lands’
As the YPG, we will give the good news of the liberation of our occupied lands, just as we paid a heavy price for the freedom of Kobanê and gave the good news to Kurdistan and the world. At the same time, we will defend all our regions with the spirit of resistance of Kobanê. On the basis of these foundations, every patriotic, ecologist, revolutionary and libertarian our people should be sensitive to such attacks and have an attitude. We once again celebrate the historical anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê for our people and for all humanity. We will undoubtedly lead the resistance to victory by fighting for a free future and lasting peace.”
