Twin Assyrian fighters resist in avenge of Ottoman massacres

Turkish state and its mercenaries continue their attacks on the areas of northern and eastern Syria, Tel Tamer in particular in conjunction with the flight of reconnaissance aircrafts. The Syriac Military Council Forces and al-Khabour Protection Forces respond to the occupation attacks in the context of the legitimate self-defense.

On January 3, 2013, the Syriac Military Council was formed, and al-Khabur Protection Forces in April 1, 2012. With the formation of these forces, hundreds of Assyrian, Syriac, and Armenian fighters joined, and for the first time, a force was established from Armenian, Assyrian, and Syriac components in northeastern Syria.

 (Twin brother) fighters from the Assyrian component are among al-Khabour Protection Forces fighters who are now on the resistance front.

The twins did not remain silent about ISIS attacks, but joined al-Khabour Protection Forces in 2015. They have been resisting the occupation since five years.

The fighter Basil Hasaka said about his joining: "My twin brother and I have decided to join to face the attacks and revenge for the people. Our aim is to stand firm against any attack and protect our people."

Like all the components, the Assyrian component was also targeted by ISIS, so hundreds of young Assyrians, Syriacs and Armenians joined for defending themselves.

With peoples’ solidarity, we defeated ISIS

Basil Hasaka talked about some practices of ISIS: "Hundreds of Assyrians were kidnapped by ISIS overnight, I could not keep quiet, so we decided to join. With their brutal practices, they cannot defeat us, but we are getting stronger and more resistant."

"I was most impressed during the war by the fact that we all the components of the region resisted and fought with each other, and in this spirit and unity, we were able to defeat ISIS and win," he said.

Basil pointed out that ISIS which attacked and occupied the territories in 2015 is now attacking under different names and uniforms, and he said: "The occupation mercenaries who are attacking our areas today are the same ISIS mercenaries. They want to deny the identities of peoples, especially the Assyrians."

He added: "The occupying Turkish state and the descendants of the Ottoman Empire who committed massacres in Sefo and Semli did not get their objectives, so now they want to achieve them by attacking our areas. During Sefo and Semli massacres, we had no power to protect the people from the massacre.

Before the Syrian revolution, the Syrian regime did not allow the Assyrians to form their own forces, but Rojava revolution gave the Armenian, Syriac and Assyrian components an opportunity to form their forces, and protect their people from new massacres. Al-Khabour Protection Forces resisted  ISIS attacks. They are now resisting attacks of the occupier, the Turkish state and its mercenaries."

We resisted in front of the Ottoman state grandchildren

The fighter David Debaz said that he is proud of his joining and that he heard about the massacres committed by the Ottomans from his grandfather, and that he sees the same practices in front of his eyes now, adding, "We are now resisting in front of the descendants of the Ottomans who attacked in the name of the "Peace Spring ," but this is not a peace spring, it is a spring that is source of humanitarian crimes."

In the occupied regions, the demographics are being changed

 Debaz noted that they will not allow the crimes of the Ottoman Empire to be repeated and said: "Our ancestors were slaughtered by the Ottoman Empire and we promised to revenge for them, and those who were able to get rid of those massacres are forming their forces now. We will not accept the occupation and will not allow them to enter our territory."

David Debaz called on all Assyrian, Armenian and Syriac youth to join al-Khabour Protection Forces and the Syriac Military Council, and protect their lands from the occupiers, saying: "We will protect our people from attacks until the last drop of blood in our body. Our Assyrian people must return to their areas, and we will abide by the promise we took for our people."

A.J

ANHA