The Turkish state and the Syrian National Army (SNA) have been carrying out air and ground attacks on Tishrin Dam and the surrounding villages since 8 December 2024.

Despite these assaults, fighters from the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), People’s Protection Units (YPG), and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are resisting with great determination. In solidarity with the fighters, the people of Northern and Eastern Syria launched a vigil at Tishrin Dam on 8 January 2025, embracing the spirit of the Revolutionary People's War. Fighters and the people continue to defend Tishrin Dam despite intense airstrikes by the Turkish state and its SNA proxies.

Among those participating in the ongoing resistance at Tishrin Dam is YPJ fighter Bişeng Çiya. 

Highlighting the intensification of Turkish state attacks, Bişeng Çiya said: "No matter how much the Turkish state increases its attacks, we are waging a great resistance at Tishrin Dam in response. We will never take a step back because we are the children of a people who believe in freedom. Our people stand firmly behind us, and their unwavering faith in us strengthens our determination to resist. As the fighters defending Tishrin Dam, we will uphold our promise to our people and, with the spirit of the Revolutionary People's War, we will defend our land to the very end."

Turkey directly targets journalists 

The Turkish state is carrying out massacres at Tishrin Dam, both through its affiliated gangs and by employing technical methods such as drones.

Highlighting the targeted killing of journalist Egîd Roj, Bişeng Çiya said: "We are not only fighting against gangs, but we are also resisting the Turkish state's suicide drones. But it is not just the fighters who make great sacrifices; our people and journalists are also part of this resistance. This is the reality at Tishrin Dam. Journalists coming here do so to reveal the ongoing resistance and expose the Turkish state's attacks to the world. That is why the Turkish state directly targets journalists."  

Roj underlined that journalists are neither fighters nor armed; they only use their cameras and pens to inform the public about the resistance at Tishrin Dam. "Egîd Roj was one of the dedicated journalists working at Tishrin Dam. He amplified both the reality of the fighters and the voices of the resisting people. He bravely carried out his journalistic work on the front lines to uncover the truth. This is why he was targeted by the Turkish state. We will continue our struggle to the very end and will never allow this dam to fall into enemy hands."