Following the heavy losses suffered by the Turkish army in the guerrilla areas in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq), the Turkish air force is once again launching heavy attacks on civilian infrastructure in North and East Syria. The Turkish regime is clearly trying to punish the population there for the failure of its invasion in South Kurdistan.

The power supply in almost the entire canton of Cizîrê and also large parts of the Euphrates canton has collapsed because of targeted attacks on civilian infrastructure. Due to the severe damage caused by attacks on the oil supply facility in Ewda, five deep wells and thus also the water supply of Tirbêspiyê have failed.

Following attacks on the power station on the road to Aleppo, which runs south of Kobanê, there was a power cut in the city of Kobanê and in 300 villages. The power station suffered damage estimated at 800,000 dollars and more than ten water wells were also damaged.

89,000 households in the Euphrates Canton no longer have an electricity and water supply, and the supply has completely collapsed in 660 villages and hamlets. However, due to the ongoing attacks on the region, the destruction of the region's infrastructure is increasing by the minute.  

‘They are trying to drown the region in a flood of fear’

Bêrîvan Xalid, co-chair of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), spoke to ANF about the heavy attacks that the Turkish state is launching against the self-governing regions in North and East Syria. Xalid stated: "The Turkish state is trying to prevent people from living a peaceful and orderly life. We are being violently attacked in order to make living conditions here unbearable. The region is wanted to be drowned in a flood of fear and the project of democratic, autonomous self-government is wanted to be destroyed. The goal is to destroy the region's infrastructure and to make the people sink into misery. The suffering of the people is wanted to be further increased. The aim is to depopulate the region by ensuring that people are no longer able to find a roof over their heads or food. The Turkish state is also trying to take revenge on the people who won the victory over ISIS, because the people in the region resisted ISIS until the very end and stopped ISIS terror. The Turkish state not only wants to take revenge, but also to breathe new life into ISIS."

"Supply of electricity, water and fuel is interrupted"

Commenting on the extent of the destruction, Xalîd said: "The primary goal of the autonomous administration is to serve the population and create good living conditions for the people. However, the Turkish state's attacks have severely damaged the region's infrastructure. There was extensive material damage and many facilities and institutions that serve our population had to suspend their services. In particular, electricity, water and fuel supplies have been disrupted. The Turkish state is attacking bakeries and grain silos. Facilities that supply food to the population are being attacked. In view of the material damage caused, many other facilities and institutions will have to suspend their services.”

Xalîd pointed out that: “These attacks will also cause many problems with regard to the security of the region. This is because the occupying Turkish state is targeting the facilities of the Internal Security Forces. Many places near or around the prisons where ISIS criminals are held have been attacked. These attacks allow ISIS to reorganize itself. For this reason, in addition to the material damage, security in the region is also at serious risk. This poses a threat not only to the region, but also to the peoples of the world."

‘We will continue to serve our people as best we can’

The wave of attacks is the fourth since September 2023, said Xalid and continued: "The attacks here have been going on for years. These attacks are accompanied by a far-reaching embargo against the region. For years, a policy of war against our region has been taking place on the basis of political interests. The Democratic Autonomous Administration project is wanted to be destroyed. As the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, we have declared from day one until today that we will fulfill the needs of our people to the best of our ability. The resources available to the Autonomous Administration are very limited, but despite the limited resources, we have worked to improve the living conditions of our people time and time again. However, it is not easy to renew the infrastructure under intense attacks. We have taken some measures, but the attacks continue unabated. Under these conditions, there will be interruptions in the development process, because even before the wounds of the previous attacks have healed, new attacks have been launched, and it will be difficult to provide for the people. Our options were already limited before, and the attacks will limit our options even further. Unfortunately, people's living conditions will become more difficult, and these difficulties will intensify. But we will continue to serve our people as best we can."

‘The people are determined to resist’

Pointing out the attitude of the people in North and East Syria towards the attacks, Bêrivan Xalid stated: "The people in the region have shown a very strong attitude towards the attacks since the beginning of the Rojava revolution. They have been constantly on the streets and have insisted on resistance instead of giving it up. This attitude of the people is also evident in the attacks of these days. They have once again shown their persistence in resistance. They defend, love and protect their homeland. This sense of patriotism will not make them leave. The Autonomous Administration draws its strength and morale from the people. The people have rallied around the Autonomous Administration and mobilized to protect the achievements of the Autonomous Administration. We draw our strength from our people, and our confidence in our people is boundless. Again, it was women who led this resistance. The women were on the streets every day, opposing the Turkish state. They insisted on the protection of their country. Our people must continue to strengthen their resistance. We know that the attacks will continue, and our people should enhance their resistance in order to protect their gains and defend the paradigm of the democratic nation. With free women and free peoples, we will lead the Rojava revolution to success."