Shams al-Shimal Commander Mihemed Abu Adıl who partook in the epic Kobanê resistance spoke to ANF at the second anniversary of the liberation of Kobanê.

Mihemed Abu Adıl remarked that the spirit of self-sacrifice created in Kobanê did also enable the liberation of Manbij.

"ALL OUR PEOPLES WANT IS A DEMOCRATIC SYRIA"

Commander Mihemed Abu Adıl, who is from Manbij, said Kobanê always had a different meaning to him.

Recalling that the peoples of Syria rose up against the Ba'ath regime for freedom, equality and justice in 2011, Commander Adıl pointed out that all the peoples of Syria want is a Democratic Syria where everyone can freely. Adıl stressed that these demands of the Syrian peoples was terrorized as result of direct or indirect interventions of international and regional forces, adding: "Syrian peoples found themselves in the midst of a destructive and bitter war."

"ATTACKS ON KOBANÊ AIMED TO DESTROY ROJAVA"

Abu Adıl recalled that during the same period the political and military forces of Rojava tried to keep the war out of their land, and achieved this to a large extent, while Serêkaniyê and Efrîn witnessed major battles in 2013 that aimed to destabilize Rojava.

Noting that Rojava had its share from the Syrian war, Abu Adıl said the peoples of Syria fleeing the war and destruction moved to Rojava that became a safe harbor for peoples. He pointed out that international and regional forces intended to destroy Rojava in Kobanê in 2014.

"ISIS GANGS HAD NUMBER AND ARMS SUPERIORITY"

Recalling that a very violent and severe wave of attack on Kobanê was launched after the war was carried into the lands of Rojava, Abu Adıl said ISIS gangs made further advances into Kobanê, in the face of which the military forces there made tactical retreat amid intensified ISIS attacks with tank, artillery, rocket and heavy weaponry, and with a number and arms superiority.

"We just had Kalashnikov rifles and bombs. Beyond that, we had a spirit of self-sacrifice in unity and solidarity. We had only two streets left under our control. Still, Kobanê did not fall. The technical and numerical superiority of the gangs never scared us."

Abu Adıl noted that he was positioned in the emplacements of resistance in Sukul Hal and Industrial area, and did not engage in the fight very much as he mainly dealt with foreign relations and political efforts, and readied fighters and transferred them to their positions.

Recalling that international and regional forces remained silent and indifferent in the face of the ISIS attacks aiming an occupation, Abu Adıl noted that people in Northern (Bakurê) Kurdistan, Europe and all around the world took to the streets and staged protests in support of the resistance mounted by a handful of people in Kobanê. He remarked that these demonstrations were also an exposure of the international and regional forces that remained silent on ISIS barbarity, and forced these forces to take a step against the gangs.

Abu Adıl recalled that this was followed by aerial support in the first place, and then the arrival of peshmerga forces with their heavy weaponry in Kobanê. He noted that these peshmergas did not join the resistance or take place on the front lines.

"WE GOT THE PESHMERGA FOOD IN RETURN FOR A PHOTO"

Shams al-Shimal Commander Mihemed Abu Adıl continued, telling a memory of his with peshmergas during that period: "Peshmergas were firing mortars at ISIS gangs from behind the battle front and they were receiving special food from Turkey during their presence in Kobanê. We, on the other hand, could find no bread even, and we remained hungry for days. One day, a peshmerga commander came near me and wanted to take a photo together. When I asked him why he wanted to do this, he answered 'If I take a photo with you, people will think I am fighting on the front line. When he insisted, I accepted to have a photo taken, but on one condition only. I said 'We can have a photo taken if you give your food to us for today'. He accepted it and we had a photo taken. Both we and the peshmerga commander were happy in the end."

"MANBIJ LIBERATED WITH THE SPIRIT OF KOBANÊ VICTORY"

Abu Adıl said the epic resistance of Kobanê ruined all the military and political balance in Syria and the Middle East, noting that the liberation of Kobanê brought along the liberation of Grê Spî, Mebruka, Siluk, Ayn Isa, Sirrin, Hawl, Tishrin, Shaddadi and Manbij as well.

Abu Adıl remarked that the revolutionary forces that liberated Kobanê are today marching to liberate Raqqa, the heart of ISIS gangs, adding: "Many fighters in our ranks are from Raqqa. They joined the Operation Wrath of Euphrates to liberate their city. We are taking part in the operation to liberate Raqqa with over a hundred fighters. We promised Kobanê combatant Abu Layla, we will eradicate ISIS in Raqqa."

TO THE PEOPLE OF KOBANÊ

Shams al-Shimal Commander ended by calling on the peoples to reclaim Kobanê and the Rojava Revolution, saying: "Our people should unite around the Northern Syria Federation. Those who migrated to Turkey to other areas in the region and to Europe, Kobanê youth in the first place, should turn back home. The people of Kobanê and all peoples should know that many who joined the Kobanê battle fell martyr before seeing peace and even drinking the water of Kobanê. This was the spirit of self-sacrifice with which Kobanê was defended, without taking one single step backward. It is the courageous and brave revolutionaries that triumphed. What needs to be done now is to remain committed to our martyrs and to build Democratic Syria by following in their footsteps."