The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Press Center announced that four fighters fell as martyrs after putting up heroic resistance on the el-Aliya–el.Mekmen front west of Hesekê, successfully halting the advance of armed groups.
The statement read as follows:
“We announce the epic of sacrifice written by our four fighters in an extremely difficult battle on the el-Aliya front west of Hesekê.
What took place on the el-Aliya–el-Mekmen front was not a temporary clash in open terrain, but a direct test of the will to resist.
Between January 17 and 20, following attacks targeting Deir ez-Zor and Shaddadi, the el-Aliya–el Mekmen front turned into a real battlefield. The calculations and strategies of the attacking groups were disrupted, and the balance of advances on the ground was fundamentally reshaped.
Here, we wish to name those who stood on the front lines. Because at the moment when everything was being tested, they were at the very forefront.”
Hogir Dêrik
Enemy vehicles advanced to close range, and Hogir Dêrik did not wait. He chose to move directly toward the armored vehicle, becoming the final barrier. He detonated himself together with the explosives he was carrying, destroying the vehicle. Because there are moments that allow no return and cannot be governed by calculation.
Çiyager Ergani
Comrade Çiyager Ergani was wounded. He had the chance to withdraw but chose to stay. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight and was martyred. He expressed his resolve in these words: “Not every wound marks an end; some wounds are proof of a vow of resistance, of love for the land and for the people.”
Rêber Egîd
Rêber Egîd chose the most difficult position. He did not abandon his post or his comrades. He fought until the very end and stopped the enemy. Until his final breath, he remained on the path of heroic resistance.
Egîd Hesekê
At the height of the attacks, Egîd Hesekê entered the fighting directly. He never retreated; it was as if time itself had taught him the meaning of resistance.
They resisted with sacrifice
The details of the resistance carried out by our four fighters between January 17 and 20, 2026, are as follows:
On the morning of January 17, convoys belonging to enemy groups moved toward the El Aliya and El Mekmen fronts, targeting the villages of Abu Fexîd, Sufiya and Bedîh. The objective was clear: to open multiple lines and advance rapidly.
These attempts, however, were met with direct and heroic resistance by our fighters. By the end of the day, two military vehicles equipped with heavy weaponry had been destroyed. As a result, the enemy’s advance was halted until late at night.
The first day delivered a clear message: no corridor had been opened as planned.
Attacks intensified on January 18–19
Attacks on the same front resumed on the morning of January 18 and continued through the following day. With the support of artillery fire, tanks and Turkish drones, the assaults were escalated to their highest level. The front was turned into an open battlefield, with the aim of breaking the resistance through overwhelming firepower.
Despite these intense attacks, our fighters did not remain on the defensive. Using every available tactic, they carried out ambushes and inflicted heavy losses on the attacking groups. They resisted with an iron will, turning the enemy’s advance into a burden for the attackers themselves.
These two days marked not the continuation of an ordinary clash, but the moment when the enemy’s attempts to establish control turned into an effort to merely survive.
Despite the full force of the assaults, no fundamental change occurred in the balance of control on the ground.
Day 4 – January 20
After three days without results, January 20 marked the most intense day of the attacks. Unmanned aerial vehicles belonging to the Turkish state carried out heavy airstrikes, while artillery fire continued without interruption. Enemy groups launched more than one hundred artillery strikes in a single day. At the same time, tanks, armored vehicles and new reinforcements equipped with heavy weapons were deployed, and simultaneous attacks were launched from all directions to break the resistance. Despite this, the enemy failed to achieve any result and was unable to advance even in a single step.
Our fighters confronted the assaults head-on, engaging in direct, close-range combat. Attempts to advance were turned into face-to-face battle zones. Through strong resolve and direct clashes, successive waves of attacks were repelled. After numerous vehicles and armored units were destroyed, enemy groups were forced into open combat.
Final Act of Resistance
As the fighting intensified and many of our comrades were martyred, the clashes reached their most critical phase. At this moment, martyr Hogir Dêrik moved toward the front without hesitation or doubt. He turned his own body and will into a weapon to stop the enemy’s armored vehicle. By detonating the explosives he was carrying, he destroyed the vehicle.
The four-day resistance was not merely defensive in nature; it became a harsh war of attrition in which the enemy was made to suffer heavy losses. During this period, more than fifteen tanks and armored vehicles were destroyed, and dozens of casualties were inflicted on enemy ranks.