Known as one of the enduring symbols of resistance, the Sheikh Maqsoud (Şêxmeqsûd) neighborhood of Aleppo came under a heavy attack and was occupied by gangs affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) on January 6. Fighters led by Martyr Ziyad Heleb and Martyr Deniz Çiya fought heroically with a fedai spirit, refusing to bow to the occupying forces and inflicting heavy losses on the attackers.
The assaults that began in Sheikh Maqsoud continued on January 16 along the Deir Hafir (Deyr Hafir), Raqqa and Tabqa line. In these attacks, in which the laws of war were blatantly disregarded, no distinction was made between children, women and the elderly. What took place was not merely the occupation of territory; it was an attempt to carry out a massacre against the Kurdish people. The aim was to annihilate the Kurdish people and break their will.
The People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) resisted attacks in unity with the people. Fighters said: “This war is for our people. Residents have also joined the resistance in the streets and in their neighborhoods. We are the children of this land; a people do not abandon its children,” underlining that the source of the resistance lies in the strong bond forged with the people.
It was stated that the attacks did not weaken the resistance but, on the contrary, further strengthened the unity and will of the Kurdish people. It was noted that this spirit of unity emerging across the four parts of Kurdistan has become an example for the entire world. The people were also thanked for their calls in support of the resistance.
YPJ fighter Militant Afrin, stated that popular resistance is the fighters’ philosophy of life, drew attention to attacks targeting women and delivered the following message: “In defiance of those who reach for our comrades’ braids, we will braid hundreds more. We will name newborn children ‘Kezi’ (braid). Let everyone abroad who hears our voice know that this massacre is taking place in Rojava Kurdistan. These attacks are directed not only against the Kurdish people, but against all of humanity and the values of humanity.”
Militant Afrin said they are determined to stop the war as the YPJ and are open to calls for integration and a ceasefire, adding that they are prepared for all alliances. She stressed, however, that this does not mean forgetting what has been experienced in the past, and continued: “Yesterday it was Sheikh Maqsoud; today, the whole of Rojava Kurdistan is under threat. We know very well what has been done to the Kurdish people throughout history. We will not forget the attacks against our people and our fighters; even if the cost is our lives, we are ready to sacrifice.”
Militant Afrin concluded with the following words: “As our martyred comrades said, if there is anything more valuable than our lives, we would also sacrifice it for these people. We are the fedai of these people. Today, our people are resisting in the streets and defending their neighborhoods. With our hearts and our lives, we embrace our people and send our greetings from the battle positions.”