SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hesekê–  Conflicts in Syria have been devastating. Since the deactivation of the Al-Nusra Front, Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) is now one of the most influential armed groups of the Syrian opposition. HTS is an armed group designated as a terrorist organization by the United Nations Security Council. This group has carried out many massacres across the country. 28 men were massacred in the Um El-Xêr village by armed groups. 50-year-old Fadima Mihemed lost her husband and two sons in that massacre.

“I saw them breathing their last”

Before the civil war broke out in Syria, the lives of people in the Um El-Xêr village were very good, “Everything changed when the clashes broke out. Different armed groups entered our village and killed many young people. Many of our young people lost their lives as a result of war and bombardment,” Fadima Mihemed said her husband and two sons were killed by the Al-Nusra Front, “One of my sons was married 11 days before the massacre. Our house is located on the road to the village. They caught my husband and sons after they left the house and executed them by firing squad. They executed them without telling what their crimes were. I directly went out when I heard the gunshots. I saw my husband and sons on the ground. I saw them breathing their last. They executed 28 villagers, including my sons and husband.”

Their houses were burned

After the execution of 28 villagers, Al-Nusra Front members burned the houses in the village. After the liberation of the village, the villagers rebuilt their houses. “We rebuilt our houses and maintained our lives.”

ISIS attacked their village

After rebuilding their houses, ISIS attacked their village in 2015. “After the village was cleansed from Al-Nusra Front members, ISIS attacked our village. All armed groups attacked our village and killed our young people. We stayed in the desert for a few days. We returned to our village when our village was cleansed from ISIS. Our houses were burned by ISIS. And we rebuilt our houses again.”

Attacks of Turkey on their village

After their village was cleansed from ISIS in 2015, Turkey began to attack the village in 2019. “For nearly two years, Turkey has turned our lives into hell. We cannot sleep due to the bombardment. We spend our days in fear. Children cry during the bombardments. Children are very afraid. Pregnant women, women who have just given birth, older people suffer from bombardments.”

“The war should end”

“Armed groups and invaders don’t allow us to live in our houses. They aim to displace us. The bombardments start especially at night and we leave our houses at night. We return to our houses in the morning. We want to live in peace in our village. This war should end in order that all displaced people return to their homes. Invaders should leave our lands.”