Under the general mobilization declared by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in response to attacks by the occupying Turkish state and mercenary groups affiliated with the Syrian Interim Government, people across the region are joining the resistance. Women in particular are taking up arms and heading to the frontlines to stand alongside fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ).
YPJ fighters who held a press statement in Hasakah (Hesekê) said they were answering the call for mobilization and delivered a strong message of resistance to the people of the region.
As Hesekê is threatened with occupation by mercenary groups linked to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish state, YPJ fighters issued a call for resistance to the people of the city and to all communities, saying: “In response to Comrade Ziyad’s call that ‘we are fighting death,’ we will resist for an honorable life in the footsteps of Ziyad and Deniz. No one should think that the enemy will simply walk into Hesekê unchecked.”
YPJ fighter Sarya Efrîn, speaking at the press statement in Hasakah, delivered a forceful call to resistance. Sarya Efrîn said: “If such intense attacks are being carried out against us in Rojava Kurdistan, then today, under the call for general mobilization, hundreds of young people have turned toward the frontlines to live an honorable life. In response to Comrade Ziyad’s call, ‘Em bi mirinê re şer dikin (we are fighting death), we will fight death in the footsteps of Ziyad and Deniz to build an honorable life. No one should think the enemy can simply walk into Hesekê. This is Hasakah, not Raqqa.
On this basis, our call is to our people and to our youth: today is a day of honor. As the Kurdish people, let us protect our honor.
We will defend our people to the last drop of our blood, determined to live with dignity. Even if we have only a single bomb left in battle, we will carry out our actions. Let this enemy and all international powers know this well: we will accept no form of surrender. We are the children of people who have paid a heavy price for years; surrendering in the face of those sacrifices is impossible. That is why our people’s trust in us has always been unwavering, and we will be worthy of our people’s stance and resistance. Let our people be at ease. The sons and daughters of these people are in position all around Hesekê. They will pass only if they crush us. We will fight until victory is achieved. We will follow in the footsteps of Deniz and Ziyad. We will carry forward the legacy of dozens of comrades who fell as martyrs due to the betrayal of international powers in the areas we liberated. We place our faith in no power and no dialogue. This is our promise to our people. Believe in your children, believe in your fighters. Victory will belong to our people. Our people will live with dignity among the peoples of the world. There is no option but victory.”