Kobanê, which left a great legacy of resistance to the whole world with its fight against ISIS, is getting ready to celebrate the 7th anniversary of the November 1 World Kobanê Day. Kobanê, the only city in Syria that ISIS attacked in 2014 without being able to capture the city, set an example to the whole world with the spirit of struggle it created. Drawing a new path in the history of resistance, Kobanê defeated ISIS and established an internationalist front line with the peoples of the world. When the attacks of ISIS were defeated and the war ended in victory, November 1 was declared World Kobanê Day, where everyone was united. Kobané which is now targeted by Turkey, will celebrate the World Kobanê Day under air strikes. Helime Osman, who has never left his city since the invasion attacks of ISIS, told the Mezopotamya Agency (MA) about the years of resistance and the process that led to November 1.

 

KOBANÊ WAR

 

After ISIS had captured Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria, it headed for Kobanê on September 15, 2014. Attacking Kobanê from the east, west and south lines, ISIS encountered a historical resistance in the city they thought they could occupy easily. While the resistance that developed under the leadership of YPG/YPJ members made an impact in the world in a short time, this situation destroyed the idea that ISIS is invincible. While the resistance was leading the peoples to the Kobanê resistance, the voice of the resistance spread in waves. While new balances were being established in the Middle East in the process leading up to the defeat of ISIS, the Kobanê resistance proved the adequacy of the third road line established in Syria.

 

RESISTANCE STEP BY STEP

 

 

At that time, many people, especially women, took their place in the resistance line beside YPG/YPJ fighters. One of those women, Helime Osman, summed up the spirit of resistance with these words: "We were born in this land, we will die in this land." Osman, who currently works at the Sara Women's Association in the city, works against violence against women. Osman, who was among the security forces established in the city with the July 19 Revolution, said that they started to build the social space after they first formed the defense forces. Noting that one of them was "Mala Jin", Osman stated that they declared cantons after the revolution and formed all their social pillars one by one. Osman said that the attacks against the revolution also increased, and that the first attacks were carried out by Al Nusra from the direction of Girê Spi and Jarablus. Stating that the attacks gradually increased at that time when ISIS took over Mosul and Raqqa and took control of most of Syria, ISIS was heading towards Kobané. Osman underlined the importance of the roles of USA and Turkey during these ISIS attacks.

 

DEFEAT OF ISIS

 

Noting that unprecedented attacks were carried out against Kobanê from three fronts, Osman said, "The people of Kobanê resisted together with the YPG/YPJ members against these attacks. It was a merciless attack against Kobané but so was the resistance against it. Erdoğan was appearing on televisions saying Kobané was about to fall. But Kobané resisted with the ideas and philosophies of Rêber Apo and it didn't fell. ISIS was defeated. It was not only the people of Kobané who helped this resistance. It was also thanks to the people of the north. They held the line so strong ISIS could not enter. This resistance introduced Kobané to the world and this is how ISIS was defeated in Kobané."

 

Osman continued, "Our most heavy waepon was a DShK (Dushka). They had gathered all the heavy weapons from Mosul to Raqqa. The people of Kobanê who never left their city was standing with the fighters. They resisted with the fighters and gave morale to the fighters to go on. This also applied for today. If the people stands with their fighters, Kobané will never fall. Kobané is under constant attack since 2012 to today."

 

WOMEN WERE THE GREATEST INFLUENCE

 

Underlining that the women were the greatest influence, Osman said that the resistance under the leadership of YPJ frightened ISIS the most and added, "Every woman had a gun in their hand and they stood up to ISIS. They were in the middle of the war with their battle cries. Today, both the ISIS and Turkey is afraid of the Kurdish women. "

 

VICTORY AND NOVEMBER 1

 

Stating that the historical resistance created the spirit of unity among the Kurds in 4 parts and enabled all the peoples of the world to know what's happening in Kobané, Osman said: "The blood of all peoples mixed with each other in Kobané. The people and the fighters brought victory on November 1. This is how the world recognized Kobané. With the resistance of the people. Now we are under attack one more time. The enemy targets Kobané. Turkish state attacks us. Kobané must defend its territory more determindly than when they did back in 2014. More of our children will step up and take the place of the fallen fighters as they continue to kill our children. You can not destroy Kobané. You can not annihilate us. We will stand against the Turkish attack until one children, one elderly person is left standing. We were born in these lands, and we will die on these lands."

 

ARÎN MÎRKAN 

 

Pointing out that as the international powers, especially the USA, saw that ISIS was defeated, they wanted to come and join the victory, Osman emphasized that these forces acted hypocritically. Stating that she was in the fronts for 25 days during that historic resistance, Osman said: "Didn't the USA see the ISIS that came to Kaniya Kurda? When Kobanê won a victory with its own, USA wanted to share the victory. They tried to steal the victory of our fighters. Howevever it was our resistance and our victory. It was YPJ and YPG members who resisted and introduced Kobanê to the world. It was Arîn Mîrkan, who sacrificed her life. Now, if the whole world recognizes Kobané, its thanks to women like Arîn Mîrkan. Now they are gathering in front of some tables and claim victory was theirs. This is a lie. If that were true, why did the fighters who came to Kobané joined the YPG and YPJ and not them? Everyone knew who was fighting, and who was watching."

 

 

MA / Nazım Daştan