NEWS CENTRE - The message of Kobanê, which is targeted again today after 10 years since its liberation from ISIS gangs, is ‘Kobanê did not fall, it will not fall again!’

 

As the calendars showed 26 January 2015, agencies reported the following news: ‘26'ê meha Çile 2015. Kobanê rizgar bû. Saet 3‘ê kêm 10 deqe’ (26 January 2015. Kobanê is liberated. It is 10 minutes to 3 o'clock). It has been 10 years since this announcement that made a note in history.

 

The ISIS gangs, which states and armies could not stand in front of, were liberated exactly 10 years ago in Kobanê, Rojava, after 134 days of resistance. Women's Defence Units (YPJ) and People's Defence Units (YPG) forces led this resistance that made a note in history.

 

So why did this process come to this point, why was Kobanê targeted, how was it liberated step by step, how did ISIS gangs suffer their first defeat? After 10 years, why is Kobanê today again targeted by Turkey and the paramilitary forces it supports?

 

Declarations of revolution and self-government...

 

Firstly, it would be useful to take a look at the revolution in Rojava. On 19 July 2012, with the Rojava Revolution, the peoples of the region, led by the Kurds, announced the canton organisations along with Democratic Autonomy step by step. On 21 January 2014, autonomy was declared in the region as Cizîr Canton, on 27 January 2014 as Kobanê Canton and on 29 January 2014 as Efrîn Canton. Then, construction works started in all three cantons. Cizîr Canton, the largest canton in the region, consists of 3 central cities such as Dêrik, Qamişlo and Hesêkê and 12 smaller cities and districts (Girkê Legê, Rimelan, Til Koçer, Çilaxa, Tirbespiyê, Amûdê, Til Berak, Dirbêsiyê, Til Temir, Til Hemis, Hol, Şedadê). This system also heralded a new life for the peoples and showed that it could be possible. 

 

‘Arab Spring’ in Tunisia

 

In 2010, the uprisings called ‘Arab Spring’, which started in Tunisia and spread to the Middle East, also affected Syria in March 2011. The most important result of the process that continues to this day in Syria was the Rojava Revolution that started with the declaration of the first canton in Kobanê. And this revolution, which went down in history as the ‘Women's Revolution’, then spread to Northern and Eastern Syria, bringing the peoples together, uniting them on the line of free, equal and democratic life.  

 

‘Peoples’ spring' instead of “Arab spring”

 

With the outbreak of conflict and war in Syria in 2011, the Kurdish people were neither close to the current Baathist regime nor to the groups ‘fighting’ against it. The Kurdish people preferred the 3rd Way line, which is a new alternative in line with the paradigm and perspective of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan. The 3rd Way line also signalled the construction of a ‘Peoples’ Spring’ instead of the “Arab Spring” pointed out by PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

 

 

The first spark

 

Following the start of the conflicts in Syria, the first spark of the revolution was lit in the city of Kobanê on 19 July 2012. With the declaration of Cizîr and Efrîn cantons in succession, Autonomous Administration was declared on the basis of the democratic nation perspective in Rojava.

 

Construction began

 

Determined to organise and build a new life, the Kurdish people formed many assemblies, communes, parties and organisations, especially the Democratic Society Movement (TEV-DEM). Courses were opened for Kurdish children to receive education in their mother tongue, and efforts were made to build schools. Institutions for Kurdish language studies were opened. Work was carried out to develop self-defence to protect the new life they started to build. The construction of the revolution was called the ‘Women's Revolution’ due to the active leadership role of women in all these works. The world recognised and defined the Rojava Revolution construction as the Women's Revolution.

 

 Attack on the place where the first step of the revolution was taken

 

International powers, especially Turkey, took action against the gains and status of the Kurdish people with the revolution. A step was taken to strangle the revolution in Kobanê, where the first spark was lit. On this basis, ISIS attacked Kobanê on 15 September 2014.  The aim of the ISIS attack was an occupation movement as in Iraq and other regions. ISIS also aimed to provide uninterrupted liaison and logistical support between the cities such as Girê Spî, Jarablus and Reqa, which were occupied by cutting the connection between Efrîn and Cizîr cantons.

 

If Kobanê falls....

 

While the aim of Turkey and international powers was to destroy ISIS and the revolution as soon as possible, the expected did not happen. While YPG and YPJ fighters showed an unprecedented resistance against ISIS, Rojava Autonomous Administration called on all Kurdish people to defend Kobanê with the words "If Kobanê falls, Rojava falls, Kirkuk falls."

 

 

‘Those who give way to death gangs jeopardise the future of peoples’

 

The period of ISIS's attack on Kobanê was also the period of talks between the Turkish government and PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı. Abdullah Öcalan, in one of the meetings he held with the delegation in İmralı, made an assessment about the ISIS attack on Kobanê. Abdullah Öcalan made the following statement about the attack on Kobanê: ‘Those who facilitate, encourage and try to use these death gangs should know that their attitude jeopardises the future of the peoples, especially peace in the region.’  Upon this assessment, the Kurdish people, especially women and youth, and then the rights of Turkey mobilised for Kobanê.

 

Fedayeen women Arîn Mirkan and Rîvana.

 

After the attack, ISIS took control of the critically important bridge over the Euphrates River and started to advance towards Kobanê city centre from the villages. While the attacks were carried out with heavy weapons left behind by the Iraqi army, Kobanê centre started to be hit with tanks, rockets and mortars. When the dates showed 2 October, ISIS occupied 350 of the 354 villages around Kobanê. On 5 October, ISIS reached Miştenûr Hill, which is an important place for Kobanê. However, they encountered a great resistance in Miştenûr. Here, YPJ commanders Arîn Mirkan and Rîvana stopped ISIS with their action.

 

Tayyip Erdoğan's statement ‘Kobanê is falling’

 

As of mid-October, ISIS occupied half of Kobanê city centre. Crossings to Kobanê were prevented by the Turkish government. AKP President Tayyip Erdoğa made a speech in Dîlok at that time and said, ‘Ayn-el Arab, also known as Kobani, has fallen and is falling’. After Tayyip Erdoğan's statement, the Kurdish people took to the streets all over Kurdistan and flowed more to the border of Kobanê.

 

 It went down in history as ‘Kobanê Serhildani’

 

This process went down in history as ‘Kobanê Serhildanı’. The government in Turkey attacked the people who took to the streets and tens of people were killed and hundreds were injured in these attacks. The protests were ended with the message sent by Abdullah Öcalan in İmralı Island in order to prevent further massacres by the government.  

 

Years after the Kurdish people's defence of Kobanê together with the peoples of Turkey and the Kobanê resistance, which led to national unity and a meeting with the people of Turkey, the AKP government filed a lawsuit against Kurdish politicians.  

 

 

Over 4 months of resistance: World Kobanê Day

 

While the resistance shown for the defence of Kobanê echoed all over the world, this support was concretised by declaring 1 November as World Kobanê Day. As the resistance in Kobanê was showing its effect almost all over the world, the coalition forces formed against ISIS took action and ISIS positions were bombed from the air. Miştenûr Hill, which is critical and symbolic for Kobanê, was cleared from ISIS. After 134 days of great resistance and struggle, Kobanê was completely liberated from ISIS.

 

Victory announcement: Kobanê rizgar bû!

 

The liberation of Kobanê from ISIS was also the starting point of the defeat of ISIS, which was supported by international powers, especially Turkey. Then ISIS was completely defeated with the struggle of the Syrian Democratic Forces (QSD), YPJ and YPG fighters. A YPG fighter noted the defeat of ISIS in Kobanê and the liberation of Kobanê with the following words:  "26'ê meha Çile 2015. Kobanê rizgar bû. Saet 3 kêm 10 deqe- 26 January 2015. Kobanê has been liberated. It is 10 minutes to 3 o’clock."

 

Kobanê is targeted again

 

Although 10 years have passed since the liberation of Kobanê from ISIS gangs, it is still the target of attacks today. Since early December 2024, the villages around Kobanê and the Tişrîn Dam, which is only 30 kilometres away, have been bombed by Turkey and the paramilitary groups it supports. The dam is important for the peoples of the region, especially Kobanê. Because most of the water is supplied from here. Turkey and the groups it supports are trying to bring down Kobanê with the attacks and massacres they intensified in Tişrîn. However, with the resistance shown for days and the people not giving up their vigil against the massacres, the message given is "Kobanê will not fall again."