The Battalion of the 5; Ten years of resistance and struggle

In every city of North and East Syria, there is a story and history written by the resistance against the attacks towards the region.

Among those cities, Hassakeh canton`s Tel Tamir district is just one of these examples. Its citizens became a symbol of resistance against constant attacks. The Battalion of 5, also known as Martyr Shiyar`s battalion, is an example of this resistance.

As a result of the continued attacks of the Turkish occupation state agasinst the region, and with the help of military forces deployed on the frontlines, Martyr Shiyar`s Battalion returned to the front.

With the start of the Syrian crises, the attacks by mercenary gangs against the region and the destruction of security and military institutions of the Damascus government, Martyr Shiyar`s Battalion was established as a defense committee for the reigon.

The battalion consisted of a group of willing citizens, who also contunied to carry on with their ordinary lives. But when war or fighting broke out, they directly organized themselves into defense forces to protect the region. 

Isa Rejeb, one of the battalion`s founders, is still supervising its organization today, said: “We organized ourselves with peoples from all backgrounds and ages in order to protect the region against the attacks by the mercenary groups.”

As time went by, defense committees were formed by the residents, and in 2013 they formed a battalion.

WHO WERE THEY AND HOW DID THE BATTALION GET ITS NAME?

According to the founders of the battalion, the battalion got its name from martyr Shiyar. He was a People`s Committee member, and was martyred when taking part in the resistance against the attacks carried out against villages between Tel Tamir and Sere Kaniye in 2013. The name of the battalion was taken to show loyalty and honor him.

The battalion consists of 100 people from the Tel Tamir district, who all joined on a voluntary basis. Their ages are different and there is even also people up to the age of 70.

55 year old Muhammed Dawe is the battalion`s commander and according to him, one of the uqique things with the battalion is the age of its members. The youngest member of the battalion is 20 years old, but most of them are quite old.

According to the 55-year-old battalion commander, Mihemed Dawe, a special feature of the battalion is that most of its members are adults, including the youngest 20-year-olds. They decided to lay down their arms and resist the attacks.

The battalion is known by another name in the district; the Battalion of 5. This is because the number of members of the Battalion`s command is 5. They have taken the reponsibility of cammanding the battalion from the beginning until today`s date and also coordinate with military forces.

The Battalion of the 5, is the story of a region`s people which became known in 2015

The Battalion supported YPG and YPJ in protecting towns and villages in the district. The Battalion`s members stood side by side with the military forces on the frontlines in the fight against Jabhat al-Nusra and ISIS. The Battalion became known in 2015 when they stood side by side with and carried out a resistance together with the military forces during the battle against the ISIS terrorists in the district.

Isa Rejeb spoke on the topic and said: “ We continue our support for the military forces. We continue our support in order to fulfill the dreams of the martyrs. We took our places in previous battles. There were brutal attacks carried out by ISIS, but the battalion`s members stood firm and with total confidence. They had ambitions. Those we previously fought against, are again making threats and attacks against our regions, becauseu om 2014, the Turkish state carried out an attack against our regions by using the ISIS mercenaries.”

The Battalion of the 5, gave an oath to continue defending the region and its people and to stand by the military forces.

Isa Rejep concluded stated that the people of the district will not give up their land and said: “Let the Turkish state know that our people are not afraid of their rockets. Despite the attacks, our people are still holding onto their land. History has once again proved that the people of Tel Tamir are resilient.”

Muhammed Dawe also pointed out that his age is not an obstacle for participating in the defense of the region and taking place in the battalion and fight on the frontlines. He said: “ Despite my age, i took up arms. I do it to defend the gains made by the martyrs. We are ready to defend the region against any attacks. We will support our military forces who are deployed on the frontlines. No matter the cost, we will hold onto our land”  

(f/r)

ANHA