The 51-day resistance in the Tishrin Dam in Northern and Eastern Syria is going down in history for the courage and determination shown by the YPJ and SDF fighters. The heavy attacks launched by the Turkish state on 8 December 2024 were met with resistance from the fighters and the people in the region.

Journalist Dilovan Asmîn witnessed this resistance and wrote about the determination of the fighters who resisted until their last breath.

When the attacks on the Tishrin Dam by the Turkish state began on 8 December 2024, Dilovan covered and wrote about the resistance. She was injured on 21 January 2025. In the midst of the war, she recorded the determined struggle of the YPJ and SDF fighters and the war crimes committed by the Turkish state and its proxies. She also wrote about the enthusiasm and halay dances of the people who continue to hold a vigil at the dam. She became the voice of the revolutionary people's war and the resisting people.

The importance of Tishrin Dam

Dîlovan Asmîn spoke to ANF and drew attention to the critical importance of the Tishrin Dam. She said: "There are very heavy attacks on Tishrin and its countryside, and historical resistance is being displayed against these attacks. YPJ and SDF fighters respond to these attacks with strong determination, even in the most difficult conditions. The YPJ and YPG are fighting not only for their families, but for all the people. The basis of this struggle is the protection of the water and energy resources owned by the people. The dam meets the water and energy needs of millions of people, and therefore the resistance here is turning into a struggle for existence. Thhe Tishrin Dam is a critical symbol for the identity and future of the people."

The solidarity of the people

The convoys of people who have reached the dam since 8 January have started a vigil with great determination despite the attacks that caused death and injury. Dilovan Asmîn said: "The people started the vigil at the Tishrin Dam in order to protect their water, energy and land. The people who reached the dam are at the center of this war of existence and non-existence. The people hold a vigil to protect the dam and are exposed to attacks from air and ground. These people who continue their resistance despite the massacres are showing their determination to fight for the future of their people."

The light of truth will not go out

Journalists in Tishrin are working with great devotion to make the voices of the people and the fighters heard and to document the resistance. Dilovan Asmîn talked about the difficulties experienced by journalists and said: "While doing journalism in the areas where the war is most intense, we risk being killed or injured. But they cannot extinguish the light of truth by targeting journalists."

Asmîn said that she was injured as a result of the attacks by Turkey on 21 January, and that her colleagues Cihan and Nazım were killed on 28 December 2024 while covering the resistance.

She said: "Our two friends were killed, but their pens and cameras did not remain on the ground. The Tishrin resistance continues, and we continue to write about it."

The international community is silent against massacres

Journalist Asmîn said: "All the massacres that took place were documented, how people were massacred was reflected by our lenses. We exposed these massacres to the world. However, the international community is still silent against war crimes committed by the Turkish state and its proxies."