Following a call by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, people mobilized to protect the Tishrin Dam on the Euphrates, which is one of the most important lifelines of North and East Syria and faces the risk of an imminent collapse due to intensified attacks by Turkish troops and allied mercenaries.

Yesterday, hundreds of people from Til Temir, Dirbêsiyê, Zirgan, Hesekê, Shaddadi and Amûdê travelled to Tabqa Canton and left for the Tishrin Dam today to protest the attacks by the occupying Turkish state and allied mercenaries.

After arriving at the dam, the people joined the vigil action launched by masses from Tabqa and Euphrates Cantons on 8 December in solidarity with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ).

After the participation of the new arrivals in the vigil, Turkish warplanes bombed the vicinity of the dam.

In a statement about the growing threat to the dam, the SDF reported on 8 December that Turkish warplanes had conducted multiple airstrikes on the Tishrin Dam and its surrounding areas amid intense clashes between the Manbij Military Council forces and Turkish-backed mercenary groups.

Remarking that the risk of a catastrophic collapse of the Tishrin Dam is increasing, the SDF said: “The Turkish state will bear full responsibility for any disaster that may occur at the Dam or other areas in Syria due to the ongoing Turkish air and artillery strikes. These attacks reached a peak intensity earlier this morning and are continuing.”