Nourshan Abdi

The women of Kobani, who have been participating in the vigil held on the Tishreen for the fourth time, say that they will not stop participating in this resistance and defend the Tishreen Dam until the last breath, and with their struggle and resistance, they will protect the gains of their revolution.

The attacks of the Turkish occupation and Turkish-backed factions on and around the Tishreen Dam and the Qereqozax Bridge began on December 8, 2024. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) have been waging a historical resistance in order to protect the dam, the people, and the region. However, the ongoing Turkish occupation attacks may cause the Tishreen Dam to collapse, putting the lives of thousands in the region at risk.

With international failure, the people of the north and east Syrian, from the cantons of Jazera, Raqqa, Tabqa, and Euphrates, started a vigil on the dam to against the attacks of the Turkish occupation on January 8, 2025 to protect the Tishreen Dam and its water. Since the first day, Turkish's occupation has targeted civilian convoys, killing and injuring civilians.

On February 6, the people of the city of Kobani located in the Euphrates Canton went to the Tishreen Dam to participate in the vigil for the fourth time, considering that protecting the dam is a duty for the people of North and East Syria.

'  The brutal attacks boost the people’s determination to continue the struggle’

Zozan Khalil, a resident of Kobani, told NuJINHA why she joined the vigil. “We are now on the Tishreen Dam, and this is the fourth time that the people of Kobani have joined the vigil on the dam in order to protect the dam, its water, and the region’s power source from the attacks of the Turkish state and Turkish-backed factions, which aim to steal the gains of the people of our regions,” she said, adding:

"The people of North and East Syria, from all cantons, have been holding the vigil for a month  in order to protect it. If the dam collapses, it will cause both humanitarian and environmental disasters in our regions and across Syria, as well as neighboring countries. Therefore, we, as civilians, are now here to stop the aggressive Turkish attacks on the people of the region."

Regarding the Turkish occupation’s targeting of civilians, she said, “Despite the Turkish intensified attacks on the Tishreen Dam and although the Turkish state has committed massacres against the people of the region who protect their gains, our struggle and resistance. Our struggle and resistance to protect the dam continues and will not stop until the Turkish attacks on the region stop.”

'The resistance on the dam  is a historical resistance’

Sawsan Abbas is another woman of Kobani, who has joined the vigil on the dam for the fourth time to protect humanity and the region. “With great love for our homeland, we have joined the resistance on the dam and we challenge the Turkish occupation, targeting civilians by using its warplanes and drones,” said Sawsan Abbas. “We have made great sacrifices, a number of fighters and civilians have been killed, and others have been injured. However, the attacks cannot weaken our strength and will. On the contrary, the attacks boost our determination to continue the struggle and to protect the dam.”

Referring to the resistance being waged by the people of the region against the attacks, she said, “The people struggle and resist in order to protect themselves, their land, and their gains. Thanks to this resistance, the Kurdish people and other people of the region have been rewriting history.”

She added, "This is the third time I have participated in the vigil on the dam, and if necessary, I will participate dozens of times in order to protect water and power sources for my people, who have been attacked by the Turkish state, while the whole world just watches.

She denounced the international silence against the Turkish attacks targeting civilians on the Tishreen Dam, asking, “Why does the world remain silent against the Turkish attacks targeting the people of the region? We are tired of asking this question. Therefore, we will not ask anyone to protect us anymore because we will protect our land with our strength and the will of our fighters, who fight against the attacks of the Turkish occupation on our region with determination. We believe in our forces and we will stand with them to protect our region together until our last breath.”