Many people took to the streets in Ain Issa in northern Syria on Monday in protest at the attacks by the Turkish army. The reason was the targeted killing of three women, including activists from the women's movement Kongreya Star, by a Turkish drone in Kobanê last week. Displaced persons from Girê Spî (Tal Abyad) also took part in the demonstration, which continued from the city centre to the Russian military base in the east of Ain Issa.

The demonstration was led by security forces of Asayish. Women marched on the front of the procession, displaying pictures of activists Zehra Berkel, Hebûn Mele Xelîl and Amina Waysî and flags of the Women's Defense Units (YPJ) and chanting slogans against the occupation.

After the march through the town, the demonstration ended with a rally in front of the Russian base. Meryem Ali of the Coordination of the Women's Movement Kongreya Star said in a speech: "The peoples of Northern and Eastern Syria draw their strength from their martyrs. With this strength, our struggle to defend our motherland and our achievements will continue. The Turkish occupying state is targeting the will of the free woman. Russia must fulfil its responsibility as a guarantor power and make Turkey fulfil the obligations arising from its agreements. The international community must also take action to stop Turkey's crimes against the civilian population and women.”

The deputy co-chair of the Cantonal Council of Girê Spî, Sabri Nebo, also gave a speech. The politician condemned the ignorance of the Arab states in the face of Turkish crimes in northern and eastern Syria and also criticised the international community for its silence. "Those who remain silent are partly responsible," said Nebo.

Ain Issa occupies key strategic position

Ain Issa is located about 45 kilometres south of the town of Girê Spî (Tal Abyad), which has been occupied since last October by Turkey and its proxy army "SNA", on the strategic M4 road. Due to its relative proximity to the city of Raqqa and thus to the gate to Deir ez-Zor, Ain Issa occupies a key strategic position in Turkey's occupation plans. Artillery strikes and heavy weapon attacks on inhabited areas and settlements occur regularly there. The city is wanted to be depopulated in order to annex it to the illegal occupation zone.

Only yesterday, two fires broke out in the village Hoshan located west of Ain Issa as a result of artillery attacks in the local people’s cultivated areas. The nearby Saqir rest stop was also bombed by Turkish-Jihadist occupation forces. At the end of May, mortar shells fired from Girê Spî hit the village of Jabahil near Ain Issa and partially destroyed a mosque. The attack also caused the power supply to the village to collapse.