Encircled by YPG, YPJ, Asayish and People’s Defense Forces (HPC) fighters, 230 Syrian regime soldiers and gangs were captured in the villages near Kewkeb on the 7th day of the war in Hesekê. YPG, YPJ, Asayish and HPC had captured 113 soldiers previously, and seized many strategic locations and institutions within Neshwa Sherki and Xweran neighborhoods during the war that started after the attacks of regime soldiers.

What has happened during the first week of the war in Hesekê? On the last day of this week, YPG, YPJ, Asayish and HPC forces liberated Neshwa Sherki and then the stadium, culture-arts center, prison, Basıl junction, Economy University, and two neighborhoods from regime fighters.

Despite their technical preparations, regime forces have received one heavy blow after another since the beginning of the clashes on August 16. Regime used tanks, artillery and even air strikes after Asayish and HPC fighters responded to the initial attacks of Iran and regime-affiliated paramilitary groups and Hezbollah fighters on Asayish forces. YPG and YPJ forces then joined the fighting and the war began to transform.

It is common knowledge that the regime’s attack on Asayish forces in Hesekê was a result of the Turkish state’s meetings with Russia and Iran and the anti-Kurdish alliance of Turkey and Syria. The regime continued its presence in Hesekê for decades by taking advantage of the tensions between Kurdish, Arab, Assyrian and Armenian peoples of the city. However, regime soldiers in Hesekê fled and got trapped in a small area when ISIS gangs attacked the city on June 25, 2015. YPG and YPJ fighters then responded to the calls of Hesekê’s residents and cleared the city of ISIS gangs. Since then, the people of Hesekê have been seeking a new life without tensions and clashes, and began to govern themselves through local institutions and assemblies. The regime has been attempting new tensions in order to disrupt peoples’ coexistence, and the provocations on August 16 was the last such attempt.

Without a doubt, there were many actors involved in the war regime forces started in Hesekê; a city of utmost importance in the solution of the problems in Syria. On one hand, there are the forces Turkey, Iran and Syria that share the dirty policies of denial and genocide regarding Kurdish people. On the other hand, there are the Kurdish, Arab, Turkmen, Assyrian and other peoples of the region seeking coexistence. In addition, there are also those international powers that have their own plans for the region. Due to this complexity, the war in Hesekê has many components to it. The peoples of Rojava and North Syria have been struggling for free and shared coexistence, and fighting for their free and shared futures since the beginning of the war in Hesekê. The will of the people has been determining the course of the on-going war.

The war in Hesekê, which began after the attacks of regime forces, has entered its eighth day. 19 civilians have died so far due to the shelling, bombardment and air strikes carried out by regime fighters. YPG and Asayish forces opened a humanitarian corridor in order to move the civilians trapped within the area under regime control in order to secure the civilians’ safety. Tens of regime soldiers have died so far, 36 soldiers died only on the sixth day of the war. 53 regime soldiers including high-ranking officers have been captured by YPG forces so far. Asayish forces have captured 60 regime soldiers, and many more soldiers dropped their arms and fled the conflict zone. YPG and Asayish forces seized many heavy weaponry and ammunition. In short, the regime has been collapsing during last week’s clashes and Iran-affiliated gangs have suffered many casualties and lost their function in the city.

YPG, YPJ, Asayish and HPC liberated Neshwa Sherki neighborhood and the Basıl junction, wheat silo, prison, Economy University, stadium, culture-arts center and passport office in Xweran neighborhood from regime forces. Regime fighters have no presence in most of the city and are trapped in a small area. The actions of the Ba’athist regime, encouraged by Turkey and Iran, against Kurdish and other peoples have backfired. This must be why the Turkish Intelligence rushed to visit Damascus and the Turkish army began to bombard the positions of Manbij Military Assembly fighters’ position near Jarablus. None of these actions will yield any results because Rojava and North Syria Democratic Federal System has become the hope of all peoples in the region.