YPG (People's Defense Units) Press Office has released the balance sheet of war for 2016.

Releasing a written statement on its website, YPG said 2016 was a year of great importance for the Rojava Revolution and Syria, adding: “ISIS gangs continued their attacks ceaselessly during the year. In response, our forces fulfilled their defense mission along all border lines, and they joined the operations Wrath of Khabur, Elin and Cudi, Manbij and Wrath of Euphrates within the body of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Gangs affiliated to the Syrian National Coalition launched uninterrupted attacks against our forces in Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo. Using banned and many other various weapons, they targeted our forces and civilians in their attacks.

In addition, attacks of the Turkish army also increased gradually during the yer of 2016. Occupying Jarablus, the Turkish army entered Syrian soil and perpetrated repeated massacres against the civilians. Many residents of ours were also martyred by Turkish troops on the border. Turkish army escalated its attacks against the positions of our forces during the last days of 2016.

The Ba'ath regime forces also conducted continued attacks against our forces and civilians, in response to which our forces mounted enduring resistance and weakened the regime in many areas."

YPG noted the figures of civilian casualties given in the balance sheet stand for the areas where their forces are present, giving the following details of the war throughout 2016:

ATTACKS OF THE REGIME

“The Ba'ath regime conducted two major attacks in Hesekê and Qamishlo this year. Each one of these attacks resulted in three-day long-clashes. Separately, the Ba'ath regime carried out another 17 attacks and targeted our cities and civilians with jets and heavy weaponry.

28 civilians were martyred and 6 others were wounded as a result of these attacks which also left 134 houses and shops damaged.

Our forces retaliated and repelled all the attacks. As a result of this resistance, many locations including the strategically important Elaya Prison in Qamishlo were taken from the regime forces, in addition to Xiwêran and Neshwê neighborhoods and a larger part of the Hesekê city.

ATTACKS OF THE TURKISH ARMY

During 2016, Turkish army violated the Rojava border and engaged in harassment and attacks 191 times, attacked the properties of civilians and positions of our forces 169 times, entered Rojava border twice with helicopters, 7 times with UAVs and 13 times with armored vehicles.

As a result of these attacks, 31 civilians were martyred and 138 others were wounded, as much as could be verified. 6 members of ours (one YPG, 2 Asayish and 3 Erka Xwe-Parastınê) were martyred and 8 others were wounded.

The attacks also caused great damage on the properties of civilians, and left some houses completely burned.

ATTACKS OF THE SYRIAN NATIONAL COALITION GANGS

During 2016, Al-Nusra and Ahrar Al-Sham gangs describing themselves as Free Army, and gangs affiliated to the Syrian National Coalition attacked villages and districts of Efrîn, and Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo 284 times with mortar, handmade artillery and heavy weaponry.

Gangs targeted and attacked the civilian areas and positions of our forces in Sheikh Maqsoud with chemical weapons and poisonous gas three times. These attacks left 51 residents dead and 104 others wounded.

ATTACKS OF ISIS GANGS

ISIS gangs attacked Northern Syria Federation borders with mortars, missiles, planted mines, explosive-laden cars and heavy weapons 493 times. 15 civilians were martyred and 14 others were wounded as a result of these attacks.

ISIS gangs attacked the positions of our forces between Shaddadi and Abu Fas village with poisonous gas and banned weapons.

BALANCE SHEET OF THE SDF OPERATIONS

Within the body of Syrian Democratic Forces, our forces participated in the operations Wrath of Khabur, Elin and Cudi, Manbij and Wrath of Euphrates.

An area of 9.425 km2 was liberated from ISIS gangs as a result of these operations. This 9.425 km2 area involves big cities like Manbij and Shaddadi, dozens of districts, 699 villages and more hamlets.

4,622 gang members were killed and thousands of them were injured during these offensives, while 132 others were captured alive.

45 DShK-mounted vehicles, 203 military vehicles, 15 tanks, 15 panzers, 32 mortars and 5 Katyushas were damaged during these operations. SDF fighters also seized a large quantity of ammunition.

ARMS AND AMMUNITION SEIZED

During all clashes throughout 2016, our forces seized a number of arms and military vehicles in addition to a large quantity of ammunition from enemy forces. A total of 2,574 arms were seized by our forces who also took control of numerous military vehicles, supplies, health materials and cars of the enemy.

HEROES

All the gains made in 2016 were attained with the blood of our martyrs. These heroes fought fearlessly against the attempts of exploitation of these lands, enabled us to live in a free land and entrusted us a mission to lead the whole revolution in Syria.

During the year of 2016, 613 brave comrades and heroes of ours played an active role in the sprouting and growth of freedom in the lands of Kurdistan. We once again commemorate our martyred comrades with respect, and pledge all their families that our people and comrades will keep this struggle going to the very end. The strength we take from our martyrs will be the assurance of the achievements we will gain."