HESEKÊ – Ehmed stated that after Baxoz they put their signature under a strong fight against DAESH and said, “No matter how much the Turkish state tries to prevent it, no matter how much it gives orders to attack, the Democratic Syrian Forces will continue their struggle until the occupied areas where ISIS gangs are located and ISIS is completely ended.” she said.
SDF General Command Member Newroz Ehmed made evaluations to the ANF regarding the 4th anniversary of the Baxoz victory, their new struggle against ISIS and their results.
We are in the 4th year of the Baxoz Victory on March 23, 2019, when the territorial integrity of ISIS in the region was ended. What would you like to say?
We are going through an important date, of course. Because on this date, the ISIS caliphate was ended. In the beginning, it was mostly thanks to our people in the region, who suffered great losses by being exposed to attacks and violations. This victory in the spring created a new spring. It was also a very important day for the world. This victory was not only with the people of the region. Because ISIS was a danger to the whole world. Of course, on such an important day, we commemorate those who waged a unique struggle for this victory and gave a price. We commemorate our heroes and martyrs who attributed this victory to us with gratitude, and we bow before them with respect.
With the right Baxoz, this ‘caliphate state’ came to an end. As we mentioned then, this idea continues. At the same time, many people from neighboring countries and many countries around the world were affected by the presence of ISIS. They loved them. ISIS sleeper cell structures in the region still exist. After Baxoz, there were gangs and their supporters who infiltrated the civilians and hid in the surrounding areas. For this reason, it was stated that the operations against the secret cell structures of ISIS would continue. And many successes have been achieved in this direction. After Baxoz, many of the gangsters who managed these main cells were captured and our operations are still ongoing.
After Baxoz, what stage was reached in the fight against ISIS? What has happened during this time? What is the latest picture of the operations against ISIS during this period?
In the past years, extensive operations have been carried out on the sleeper cells and the areas where they are affected. In some places, ISIS attacks were prevented. Our struggle has never stopped since Baxoz and has continued in various ways. Our balance sheet of struggle over these years clearly shows this. The danger is not over, ISIS’s presence in the region and reorganization attempts, ISIS prisoners and their families are organizing attacks. Great efforts and struggles are being carried out for the control of these regions. The joint struggle with the SDF and the Internal Security Forces continues under the leadership of our intelligence forces.
In line with the intelligence we received, the Hol Camp, Til Berak, Til Hemîs, Reqa, Derazor, Tabqa, Sirîn, etc., where ISIS organized itself. Dozens of operations were carried out in many regions. Especially after the attacks on Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî, ISIS mercenaries carried out many major attacks in the region, such as attacks on Hesêkê Sinaa and Raqqa prisons. During this period, there were 352 terrorist attacks by ISIS. As a result of the operations carried out with the International Coalition and Internal Security Forces, 2323 ISIS members, 397 of whom were dead, who organized attacks and helped the gangs, were captured. The interrogation of the arrested gangs is still ongoing.
With the latest arrests, how many ISIS members in the region have reached? What is the situation of the detained ISIS members? With whom do you work in partnership with regard to the security of prisons and camps? All that the SDF has done about it?
With the last operations we have carried out, the number of ISIS gangs detained in our regions is over 10 thousand. The gangs arrested in Baxoz are still with us. There are prisoners from 60 countries. We carried out many important operations in 2023, upon the information that there were attempts to abduct the detained ISIS members and against the revival. Many reasons, such as the presence of other forces in the region and the economic situation, increase the threat of a resurgence of ISIS.
As the SDF and the Autonomous Administration, the biggest burden on us is the detained ISIS members. Because the prisons in the region used to be unstable and the detainees due to the current situation are dispersed in the region. Health, clothing, security, etc. spent on detained ISIS members. need expenditures have been demolished to us. The international coalition against ISIS has undertaken only 10% of this burden, and the rest is left to us. Although international organizations came to the region especially after Sinaa Prison, this support is very little of the current needs. What had to be done was to take the citizens of each country to their country. But this has happened a lot. The trial of ISIS mercenaries in the region is not an easy task, and an international court must be established. However, no action was taken in this regard. Most of the detained ISIS members and their families are Iraqi nationals. There have been joint negotiations with the Iraqi government for the deportation of ISIS members, but it works very slowly. According to the situation of our region, these prisoners are a great burden on us. Because our regions are constantly bombarded with planes and artillery. The burden of these detainees cannot be lifted alone. Dangers for the whole world.
What was the contribution of society and other institutions and organizations in the region to this struggle?
Our successful fight against ISIS is our friends and the people of the region, who were martyred by paying a great price. ISIS carried out many massacres in the region and many civilians became victims of it. We got our strength in our resistance and struggle from the fact that all the components of the society stand by our forces. The Autonomous Administration offered strong support in all aspects with all its institutions. A strong consensus was formed in the society at the point of sensitizing and educating the society on defense. As a result of the joint struggle of all social and military institutions in the region and the society, our victory gets stronger and a common sensitivity against attacks prevents attacks.
What was the contribution of the coalition forces led by the USA to the struggle in the new period?
In the process that started in Kobanê and lasted until Baxoz, the joint struggle was carried out at the highest level. International coalition forces also played a role in our victories. However, after the Baxoz war, many forces breathed a sigh of relief. However, he felt that the danger was not the same as before, and weakness emerged. Some powers want to fulfill their duties at this point, but this is less. Stronger joint measures should be taken with the international coalition. If the situation of thousands of detainees and their families from 60 countries is not resolved, it poses serious dangers at this point. Collaborative work at intelligence and operations points is carried out to a certain extent. However, most of the burden is again left to our power. Many meetings are held to return the detained ISIS members to their countries, but they are not enough.
It was stated that the SDF had a share in the US-led operation against ISIS leaders. How does the SDF contribute to operations against ISIS outside of their own regions?
Joint work is being carried out with the international coalition to identify the network that provides ammunition and financial support to ISIS gangs in the region and the regions where they are managed. Again, there are joint efforts towards the top gang leaders of ISIS and those who help. The interrogation of the gangs and families we arrested, etc. We are working on the intelligence information we get. We are waging a strong fight for the complete end of ISIS and we are involved in joint work.
What is the biggest obstacle to the fight against ISIS? It is said that the Turkish state is a hindrance. What are the documents and information you have received so far regarding the organization of the Turkish state against ISIS, especially in the occupied areas?
The most obvious example of this is the murder of ISIS leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi on the Turkish border and in the area under his control. Everyone knows the Turkish state’s partnership with DAESH. He admitted that they were sent to the region by the Turkish intelligence after they had been trained in Turkey during the interrogations of the gangs we arrested. The fact that Turkey is also the route of the abductions of the gangs in the region clearly demonstrates this support once again. They take their instructions from the Turkish state. It is obvious that ISIS mercenaries exist under other names in the occupied areas.
They commit all kinds of violations against the society such as kidnapping, arrest and murder in the occupied areas. These practices against women are not different from the idea of ISIS. Fighting for all Syria and its peoples, one of the main tasks of the SDF is to liberate these occupied areas. Military etc. for the liberation of the occupied areas and the return of their people to their lands in peace. Our work continues in many ways.
Do you have something that you want to add finally?
It’s been 4 years since Baxoz victory. Great gains have been made and our struggle continues daily. As long as the idea of ISIS exists and there are attempts to create a basis for its revival, we will continue to struggle against the desire of other powers to experience the same things towards our people in Northern and Eastern Syria with the same idea. From now on, our struggle will continue to prevent a new danger for the whole world, and as SDF, we will continue our struggle to make a free life permanent for our people and families of martyrs.
