In the guerrilla-held areas where the Turkish state has carried out its most brutal attacks, an unrelenting struggle is being waged by YJA STAR (Free Women's Troops) and (People's Defence Forces) guerrillas.

The Turkish army, which suffered a major defeat, has now started attacking Rojava in an attempt to cover up its defeat against the guerrillas. The Turkish army attacked Rojava but encountered the historic resistance of the people, as well as the YPJ (Women's Protection Units), YPG (People's Defence Units), and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). As the attacks began, the people organized themselves and formed a defensive perimeter around their own forces, standing shoulder to shoulder with their children in unified resistance. Despite the intense attacks around the Tishrin Dam, historical resistance is being shown in the region. Today, we are witnessing a second Kobanê resistance.

The YJA STAR and HPG guerrillas, who continue to resist in their posts in the free mountains, saluted this historic resistance demonstrated by the YPJ and YPG fighters. They shared their views on both the ongoing war and the resistance at the Tishrin Dam with our agency.

Turkey’s attacks on Tishrin Dam are a continuation of the policy of genocide

YJA STAR guerrilla Esmer Salar said: "The occupying Turkish army, for some time now, has been committing massacres against the people at the Tishrin Dam, viewing every form of genocide against the Kurds as a right. However, in the 21st century, the Kurds have become a great force, and nothing will ever be the same again. Today, there is a Kurdish reality that defends itself, is aware of itself, and develops its own defense. Kurds have made our existence known. We are the oldest people in this land.

We will no longer allow anyone to make plans ignoring us. Those who do not accept this are currently carrying out attacks in the four parts of Kurdistan. The attacks on the Tishrin Dam are a continuation of this genocide policy. In response to this, a great resistance and struggle is being led by the YPJ, YPG, and SDF. It is our duty to protect human dignity against these attacks. As YJA STAR guerrillas, we are today resisting the attacks by the occupying Turkish army in the war tunnels.

Today, not only in the mountains of Kurdistan or at the Tishrin Dam, but all over the world, the Kurdish people and their friends, united around the philosophy and ideology of Leader Apo [Abdullah Öcalan], are resisting and expanding the struggle."

We are fighting for a free life

Guerrilla Salar highlighted the spirit of resistance among the people in response to the attacks of the occupying Turkish army, stating: "Just as we, as guerrillas, have resisted the attacks by the occupying Turkish army with a self-sacrificial spirit for a long time, today, this spirit is resisting at the Tishrin Dam with even greater faith. The self-sacrificing and resilient spirit of the people defending their lands against the fascist and occupying Turkish army will lead us to victory.

We must fight for a free life. We say to the occupying Turkish army with great determination that the Kurdish people will never bow to its attacks. The spirit of the Kurds is the spirit of the freedom guerrillas of Kurdistan.

The revolution that will take place under the pioneer of women in the 21st century will bring freedom to the Kurdish people. To stand against these fascist attacks also means fighting against the male-dominated mentality. The resistance at the Tishrin Dam increases our desire to fight more resolutely, and it increases our desire to fight against the occupying Turkish army. This resistance should not be confined to Tishrin and Rojava; it should spread to all four parts of Kurdistan. All Kurds should join this resistance and fight against the occupying Turkish army wherever they are."

Victory will be ours!

Another YJA STAR guerrilla, Diren Çekdar, emphasized the role of YPJ, saying: "The honorable stance of the mothers of martyrs against the enemy and their words, 'we are stronger than death,' gave us great morale and courage. This resistance will be written in history. For women, it is incredibly important to recognize one's own strength and take a stance against the enemy. Whether in West (Rojava), North (Bakur) , South (Başur), or East (Rojhilat), all mothers are our mothers, and we are their children. We are the children of this people. Fighting against the same mentality gives birth to the same goals, and we are fighting for these goals. This war will be crowned with victory. From the war tunnels to the Tishrin Dam and the Qereqozak resistance tunnels, victory will be ours!"

Our struggle will continue until Öcalan is free

HPG guerrilla Rêber Botan pointed out how strongly the resistance at the Tishrin Dam has been carried out by YPG and YPJ fighters, and said: "As freedom guerrillas, we have been waging a great struggle in the mountains of Kurdistan for many years. Our struggle has had a tremendous impact around the world. For years, the occupying Turkish state has attacked the freedom guerrillas in the mountains of Kurdistan with all its technology and power. However, these attacks have not yielded any results, and the NATO-supported Turkish state has been repeatedly defeated in these mountains.

The Turkish army's proxies have lost the will and courage to fight. The only thing they relied on was technology, but even that had failed against the guerrillas. Today, the occupying Turkish army is facing the same defeat against the YPJ, SDF and the resisting people at the Tishrin Dam.

The resistance at the Tishrin Dam is the greatest evidence of this. As freedom guerrillas, we embrace and support this resistance. This resistance will undoubtedly achieve freedom."