ÊLVÎN MIHEMED

 Kobanê- On December 8, 2024, the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions started attacking the Tishreen Dam and the Qereqozax Bridge in North and East Syria. Since then, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) have been waging a resistance against the attacks to defend the dam and protect the people of the region. Since January 8, 2025, the people of North and East Syria have been holding an alternate-civilian vigil on the dam to protect their source of energy.

NuJINHA spoke to the women of Kobanê, who have joined the vigil to protect their source of energy and region.

“The Turkish state has been targeting and attacking civilians by using its warplanes and drones,” said Almaz Hiso. “Many civilians have been killed and injured in the Turkish strikes until now. Civilians join the vigil on the dam to protect their water and source of energy. This dam belongs to the people of this region.”

‘Their silence shows their collaboration’

Almaz Hiso criticized the international silence against the ongoing Turkish attacks on the dam. “Their silence shows their collaboration. Does not the international community see the attacks targeting civilians? They see but they remain silent when the Kurdish people are in question. Therefore, we, as the people of the region, started a vigil to protect our dam, our water and our source of energy. We will stand with our fighters to the end. We will always protect our dam.”

 ‘We must protect our lands and water whatever the consequences’

“Today, our children and our fighters have been waging a historical resistance to defend their lands,” said Necmê Birahîm. “For about two months, we have been holding a vigil on the dam to protect our lands, our water and our source of energy. However, Turkish drones keep targeting civilian convoys heading to the dam. We know that the aim of the attacks is to intimidate the people and to kill the Kurdish people. We must protect our lands and water whatever the consequences. The Turkish state will be defeated as ISIS was defeated in Kobanê. We will keep protecting our dam and supporting the fighters, the children of this region.”

‘We will never leave our country’

Necmê Birahîm emphasized that the ongoing attacks would never scare them. “We will never leave our region, our country. We will stand with our fighters and resist to the end. This region and this dam belong to us.”