ÊLVÎN MİHEMED

Kobanê –The ongoing attacks of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed faction Syrian National Army (SNA) on the Tishreen Dam, the second largest dam in North and East Syria, have continued since December 8, 2024. On January 8, 2025, the people from many cities of North and East Syria went to the dam in convoys and started a vigil to both the dam and their land from the attacks; however, the Turkish state has kept targeting civilians, killing 14 civilians and injuring 70 others, some are still in critical condition.

“We will defend ourselves. We will defend both our land and our infrastructure, without relying on external forces or individuals,” say the people attending the vigil on the dam.

“We are determined to defend our land despite everything,” emphasized the women of Kobanê, who attended the vigil at the dam and returned to Kobanê after transferring it to others coming from other cities.

‘We will protect the dam against all attacks’

“We joined the vigil to protect our region's infrastructure from attacks,” said Zehê Ali Eyûb. “We departed from Kobanê to the Tishreen Dam in a convoy of approximately 700-800 people. When we arrived in the town of Sarrin, the Turkish warplanes and drones targeted people to prevent them from going to the dam. The aim of the Turkish attack was to intimidate the people and break their resistance. Five civilians were killed and 11 others injured in the attack. Despite the attack, we did not give up and walked to the Tishreen Dam.”

The Kurdish people cannot rely on any external forces, Zehê Ali Eyûb emphasized. “First of all, we have to defend ourselves and our lands. The resistance of our fighters strengthens us. We salute their resistance and we will always stand with them.”

‘The aim of the Turkish state is to commit a genocide’

“The aim of the Turkish state is to commit a genocide,” said Meysûn Kewar, another woman of Kobanê, who attended the vigil. “It aims to demolish the Tishreen Dam. The ongoing attacks pose a risk to Tabqa, Raqqa and even for Kurdistan. If the dam is damaged, it will cause massive flooding. The aim of the Turkish state is to submerge villages and cities; this will pose a risk to the people in the region.”

‘The Tishreen Dam belongs to the people of North and East Syria’

Cûrî Temî, another woman, who attended the vigil from Kobanê, drew attention to the ongoing Turkish attacks on North and East Syria. “The Turkish state deliberately targets civilian infrastructure such as grain silos, power and water facilities. Therefore, we, as the people of Kobanê, attended the vigil at the Tishreen Dam for four days to protect it from the attacks. People from all ages attend the vigil to protect and defend the dam.

“The Tishreen Dam belongs to the people of North and East Syria, as well as the Kurds and Arab people. We will never leave the dam unprotected. We will protect both our land and our dam and always stand with our fighters.”