Sipan Hemo, member of the General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), spoke on the Kurdish television station Ronahî TV about the recent attacks on the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafiyah, and Beni Zeyd in Aleppo. His remarks focused on the latest talks between the Autonomous Administration’s Negotiation Committee and Damascus on the implementation of the March 10 agreement, which provides for the possible integration of the SDF into Syrian state structures.
According to Hemo, during the talks held on January 4, there were initially “positive developments” regarding the gradual integration of the SDF into the Syrian army, mediated by international actors. “Both sides had agreed to the proposals. The last meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere,” Hemo said. The mediators from the international anti-ISIS coalition even suggested publicly announcing the progress that had been made, he added.
However, the dynamic changed during the meeting: a Syrian government representative, whom Hemo did not name, unexpectedly joined the conversation and, after a brief consultation with the head of the Syrian intelligence service and the so-called defense minister, disappeared. “After they returned, they suddenly said, ‘We’re not making any statements at this time. Let’s postpone this until January 7 or 8.’” According to Hemo, it was clear that a “dirty game” was in the works, even though it was still unclear at that point whether it would be directed against Sheikh Maqsoud or another region. Shortly thereafter, however, there was a noticeable escalation in the threats against Sheikh Maqsoud.
Resistance as the only option
With regard to the attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud and the neighboring areas that began on January 6, Hemo explained that the local People’s Council had deliberately decided to resist. “Even though the SDF had already withdrawn from this area, we respected this decision and supported it. We had no other option,” he emphasized. “Although there were public calls for the SDF to intervene militarily, this was a complex scenario involving a variety of interests. It wasn’t just about Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud. The reporting also makes it clear: The attacks were not publicized by Syrian media, but by international media—and we followed this closely. The fact that representatives of several countries were in Damascus on the same day was a clear signal. The declaration of war on Sheikh Maqsoud was made in coordination with these actors,” said Hemo.
Hemo went on to recall the symbolic significance of the Afrin region, his hometown. “I am a child of Afrin. The price paid by the people there was high. In the past, people in Cizîrê hardly knew where Afrin was located—today, the world knows Afrin, Sheikh Maqsoud, and Ashrafiyah. This is thanks to the determined resistance of the people. Places such as Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud have not only made the Kurdish presence visible, but also sent a signal that they will always exist. “All the Kurds have united. In this sense, I welcome the solidarity shown by Bakur (North Kurdistan), Hewlêr (Erbil), and Sulaymaniyah. It shows that for the Kurds, the national interest takes precedence over all differences.”
The media response was also an expression of this solidarity. Regardless of their political orientation, many Kurdish media outlets began their coverage with a minute’s silence for the matyrs – a gesture that deserves respect. Despite all the pain and deficiencies that must be acknowledged, it was a resistance that also yielded gains. If we had had more resources at our disposal, we might have been able to prevent even a single stone from falling near the people of Afrin. But unfortunately, we live in a world full of tactical games and without mercy. And the roots of this game run very deep.”
SDF admits its own deficiencies
When asked whether the SDF could have intervened militarily after all, Sîpan Hemo replied: “Ziyad, Deniz, and all the others who fell were our comrades. We come from the same school, from the same circumstances. Their resistance is the resistance of the SDF. The fight in Sheikh Maqsoud is also our fight.” The commander pointed out that not every form of support needs to be openly visible: “Some interventions do not have to be obvious. Could we have done more? Certainly. We are evaluating this internally. We have deficiencies and take the criticism of the people in Ashrafiyah, Sheikh Maqsoud, and Afrin very seriously. Their accusations are justified, and no explanation from us can do justice to their pain. There will definitely be a self-critical review.”
At the same time, Hemo warned of the possible consequences of direct military escalation: “Some measures inevitably have more serious consequences. There are states that act behind the scenes. For example, one country has signaled its support for the attacks to Damascus without making this public. That is also part of the reality.” In this context, Hemo was clear: “I’ll say it openly here: the drones that circled over Sheikh Maqsoud and the tanks that bombed the district all belonged to the Turkish army. It wasn’t made public, but sometimes that’s not necessary anyway.”
“Those who fail to keep their promises share responsibility”
Sîpan Hemo addressed the recently agreed ceasefire agreement for the affected neighborhoods. According to Hemo, this agreement came about under pressure from the resistance: “Through their determined resistance, our friends laid the foundation on which an agreement was ultimately reached. It was assured that in return for the withdrawal of military forces, the safety of the neighborhoods would be guaranteed. This was promised.”
However, Hemo warned international mediators of their responsibility: “If these mediating forces do not keep their promises, we will hold them jointly responsible for the massacres committed.” Part of the agreement was also a promise to respect the political will of the population and to enable them to represent themselves. “It remains to be seen whether this commitment will be honored. Our demand is clear: the political self-determination of the people of Afrin must be recognized. They must be able to remain present and visible in all their diversity.”
Special warfare on the digital media
Sîpan Hemo also addressed the role of digital media in the context of the current escalation. He spoke of targeted special warfare strategies that are being pursued in particular via social networks and online platforms: “There is an enormous wave of disinformation, lies, and deliberate distortion in the digital media.” In light of these developments, Hemo called for a strengthening of collective trust: “We must believe in ourselves, in our own strength. We must stand by each other and act in solidarity. If we can do that, the strategies directed against the Kurds will come to nothing.”
“They wanted to stir up an Arab-Kurdish conflict”
With regard to the future development of relations between the SDF and the transitional government in Damascus, Sîpan Hemo warned against deliberate attempts at division: “After the attacks on Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyah, attempts were made to spark a new conflict between Kurds and Arabs. This is an extremely dangerous game and it was deliberately staged. We must remain vigilant against such scenarios.”
Despite all the tensions, Hemo reaffirmed his fundamental commitment to a united, democratic Syria: “We continue to believe in democracy and in the right of all social groups in Syria to have their say. Our goal was and is for everyone to live together as equals.”
Hemo also rejected accusations that SDF had separatist intentions: “We are accused of wanting to secede certain regions. But the opposite is true: we advocate for a Syria in which every ethnic group can live in peace and stability with its own identity and political will. The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is a model that could serve as an example for the entire country. But it is precisely this model that is being deliberately undermined. We, on the other hand, remain committed to it.”
“We stand by our path”
Looking to the future and possible political developments, Sîpan Hemo explained that the SDF and the civilian structures close to it will stick to their political concept despite all the attacks: “No matter what new game is played against us, we stand by our convictions. What’s more, we will intensify our efforts. We continue to believe that the model we have built can be applied to the whole of Syria.”
He condemned the attacks on the neighborhoods of Ashrafiyah and Sheikh Maqsoud as “barbaric” and “racist,” but at the same time emphasized the broad social solidarity: “Despite everything, we know that the hearts of many people in Syria are with these two neighborhoods. There have been numerous attempts to make contact and many expressions of support—from Sunnis, Druze, Alawites, Christians. This is not a society with which we are in conflict.”
Hemo was cautious about the future of talks between the SDF and the transitional government in Damascus: “We are still in a period of mourning. We are mourning our martyrs, caring for our wounded, and processing the pain. A formal assessment of the situation is still pending, but the right approach will certainly emerge.”
The struggle will continue
Sîpan Hemo announced that the struggle would continue despite the losses suffered—more determined than ever. “We have been fighting for 14, 15 years and have lost around 16,000 people. And yet we will defend this people until there is not a single one of us left. This attitude was demonstrated once again in the persons of Ziyad Heleb and Deniz.” Hemo emphasized that defense is not conducted exclusively by military means: “Resistance does not only mean weapons. At times, it is also conducted politically, with intelligence and strategic wisdom, and the SDF has these capabilities. In the areas of the autonomous administration, we will fulfill this responsibility to the end.”
Hemo also addressed the population itself: “Our people should know that we believe in a society that can protect itself. There is no need to view us as something different; we are the children of this people. Yes, we are on the front line, but defense is the responsibility of every single member of this society.”
When asked what final words he would say to Internal Security Forces commander Ziyad Heleb, who fell in Sheikh Maqsoud, and fighter Deniz, whose lifeless body was thrown from a building by Syrian government mercenaries, Sîpan Hemo replied with moving words: “I was in contact with Ziyad Heleb until the very last moment. His last words to me were: ‘If I fall, I ask everyone for forgiveness.’”
“They have already said their last words to us,” Hemo added.