Fighters from the Til Temir Military Council spoke to ANF on the sixth anniversary of the attacks launched by the occupying Turkish state and affiliated mercenary groups on Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî in the Cizirê Canton of North-East Syria on October 9, 2019.
‘The aggression began with airstrikes and large-scale attacks’
Demhat Serêkani, a member of the Til Temir Military Council and a fighter from Serêkaniyê, said that the scars of the attack on October 9, 2019, are still fresh. He recalled that the aggression began with airstrikes and large-scale attacks were carried out in cities without distinguishing between civilians and fighters:
“At first, they attacked with warplanes. They targeted everyone in the cities, civilians and soldiers alike. The attacks resulted in 10 days of resistance, and many of our friends were martyred. I also took part in the resistance and got wounded. Our only wish was that Serêkaniyê would not fall into the hands of the occupying forces.”
Serêkani emphasized that heavy and prohibited weapons were used against the people and their friends during the onslaught, stating that even six years later, the pain was still present in their daily lives.
‘We will definitely return to Serêkaniyê’
The fighter reiterated his promise to the people of Serêkaniyê and the martyrs, stating: “As the people and fighters of Serêkaniyê, we renew our promise to the martyrs and to the people that we will continue our struggle just as we resisted from 2011 to 2019 at the cost of countless martyrs. We have not forgotten Serêkaniyê. Sooner or later, we will definitely return to Serêkaniyê, either through war or politics. We made a promise to the people and the martyrs: we will not leave Serêkaniyê to the Turkish state and its mercenaries. The pain of Serêkaniyê, the cries of its children live with us every day. We will fight until we return to our city; until our last drop of blood.”
He concluded his speech, saying “Şehid Namirin” (Martyrs are immortal) and “Bijî Serok Apo” (Long live Leader Öcalan).
‘We are ready to liberate the occupied cities’
Another fighter, Ciwan Seydo, described October 9, 2019 as a “comprehensive and barbaric attack.” He stated that the occupying Turkish state and some mercenary groups ruined the cities and surrounding villages in their attacks on Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî.
“The people of Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî should remain hopeful; we will never abandon our cities. They should trust the forces of the SDF, YPG, and YPJ. Our presence in Til Temir is for Serêkaniyê, Girê Spî, and Afrîn.”
Seydo stated that the Til Temir Military Council and military forces are always ready to liberate the occupied cities and are waiting for “the right time to come.”
‘We will return our people to where they belong’
Fighter Dilşer Cudi described the October 9 attacks as looting and destruction carried out “under the name of Islam,” stating, “The occupying Turkish state and affiliated mercenaries attacked our cities under the name of Islam, looted them, and committed theft. Our people were displaced in masses. They are still migrants, each in a different place. We continue to fight in the ranks of the YPG and SDF. In these military uniforms, we will liberate and reclaim our two cities. We will avenge the suffering endured by our martyrs; we will return our people to where they belong.”
‘The return is inevitable’
Fighter Axanis Civan emphasized that the Turkish state and its mercenaries must be removed from the occupied cities. Civan said that the return would take some time but was inevitable: “The city is our city, the land is our land. We say to our people who were forced to migrate: You will return. Nothing belonging to the mercenaries and the Turkish state will remain in our cities.”