From Qereçoxê to Tishrin Dam: Ongoing popular resistance against Turkish occupation
The popular resistance of the people of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) continues unabated. This resistance was embodied in a historic act of defiance on April 25, 2017, when residents marched toward the summit of Mount Qereçoxê, marking a pivotal moment in the revolutionary struggle and laying the foundation for the victories that would follow. This act became a symbol of intercommunal unity and peaceful coexistence among the people.
On the morning of April 25, 2017, the Turkish occupation army launched an airstrike involving 28 warplanes targeting Mount Qereçoxê in Jazira Canton—then the central command for the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). The attack resulted in the martyrdom of 20 fighters, many of whom were frontline commanders battling ISIS in Manbij and Raqqa. Among the victims were also military journalists documenting the resistance and the sacrifices of the region's people.
This assault on Mount Qereçoxê marked the first direct military offensive by the Turkish state against the territories of North and East Syria. Its objective was clear: to obstruct the ongoing struggle against ISIS and to undermine the will of the people.
In the immediate aftermath, thousands of civilians—men, women, children, and the elderly—braved harsh terrain and scorching temperatures to ascend the 770-meter-high mountain. Their march was a direct condemnation of the massacre and a powerful declaration of unity. Their message to the Turkish state was unambiguous: all communities of the region stood united in their resistance.
That same night, Turkish warplanes bombed the Voice of Rojava radio station, in an apparent effort to silence the voice of the people.
The Legacy of Resistance
The Qereçoxê massacre has since become a symbol of resilience and strength. The sacrifices of the fallen have been enshrined in the collective memory as a testament to the enduring spirit of the revolution. In their honor, the Autonomous Administration has designated April 25 as “Martyrs’ Day.” Each year, citizens from across the region climb Mount Qereçoxê to pay tribute, reaffirming their commitment to the path laid by those who gave their lives.
The popular mobilization following the Qereçoxê attack represented a critical turning point in the struggle, cementing a legacy of communal solidarity and resistance that continues to define the region’s revolutionary ethos.
Though the Turkish state aimed to suppress the will of the people, its aggression only served to strengthen their resolve.
From Qereçoxê to Tishrin
The national consciousness awakened by the Qereçoxê attack remains alive. This enduring spirit is currently manifested in the resistance at the Tishrin Dam—a campaign that has persisted for over 100 days. Since January 8, residents of the region have traveled in caravans to defend the dam from ongoing assaults by Turkish forces and their gangs.
Despite enduring direct attacks that have claimed the lives of 25 individuals—including journalists, artists, and civil administrators—the people continue to arrive in waves, undeterred in their pursuit of justice and the defense of their homeland.
a.k
ANHA
From Qereçoxê to Tishrin Dam: Ongoing popular resistance against Turkish occupation
On the morning of April 25, 2017, the Turkish occupation army launched an airstrike involving 28 warplanes targeting Mount Qereçoxê in Jazira Canton—then the central command for the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). The attack resulted in the martyrdom of 20 fighters, many of whom were frontline commanders battling ISIS in Manbij and Raqqa. Among the victims were also military journalists documenting the resistance and the sacrifices of the region's people.
This assault on Mount Qereçoxê marked the first direct military offensive by the Turkish state against the territories of North and East Syria. Its objective was clear: to obstruct the ongoing struggle against ISIS and to undermine the will of the people.
In the immediate aftermath, thousands of civilians—men, women, children, and the elderly—braved harsh terrain and scorching temperatures to ascend the 770-meter-high mountain. Their march was a direct condemnation of the massacre and a powerful declaration of unity. Their message to the Turkish state was unambiguous: all communities of the region stood united in their resistance.
That same night, Turkish warplanes bombed the Voice of Rojava radio station, in an apparent effort to silence the voice of the people.
The Legacy of Resistance
The Qereçoxê massacre has since become a symbol of resilience and strength. The sacrifices of the fallen have been enshrined in the collective memory as a testament to the enduring spirit of the revolution. In their honor, the Autonomous Administration has designated April 25 as “Martyrs’ Day.” Each year, citizens from across the region climb Mount Qereçoxê to pay tribute, reaffirming their commitment to the path laid by those who gave their lives.
The popular mobilization following the Qereçoxê attack represented a critical turning point in the struggle, cementing a legacy of communal solidarity and resistance that continues to define the region’s revolutionary ethos.
Though the Turkish state aimed to suppress the will of the people, its aggression only served to strengthen their resolve.
From Qereçoxê to Tishrin
The national consciousness awakened by the Qereçoxê attack remains alive. This enduring spirit is currently manifested in the resistance at the Tishrin Dam—a campaign that has persisted for over 100 days. Since January 8, residents of the region have traveled in caravans to defend the dam from ongoing assaults by Turkish forces and their gangs.
Despite enduring direct attacks that have claimed the lives of 25 individuals—including journalists, artists, and civil administrators—the people continue to arrive in waves, undeterred in their pursuit of justice and the defense of their homeland.
a.k
ANHA
