Residents of Kobani rally over violations in Tal Hasel, Tal Aran

Public reactions continued to grow following yesterday's raids and arrests in the towns of Tal Aran and Tal Hasel, carried out by forces affiliated with Syria's interim government. Residents of Kobani called for all those responsible for the alleged assaults on Kurdish women and youths to be held accountable.

1 July, 2026 22:44

NEWS DESK

Yesterday, security forces affiliated with the interim government raided the towns of Tal Aran and Tal Hasel in the Aleppo countryside using more than 200 vehicles, including motorcycles equipped with medium machine guns. The operation reportedly involved house raids, arrests targeting Kurdish residents, and assaults on several women.

The incidents sparked widespread anger across the Kurdish community in Rojava and Kurdistan, drawing condemnation from women's organizations, human rights groups, and local residents, who demanded accountability for those involved.

In response, residents of Kobani organized a sit-in in front of the Free Woman Statue in the city center to denounce what they described as arbitrary attacks carried out by members of the interim government's General Security forces in Tal Aran and Tal Hasel.

The protest began with a minute of silence in memory of the fallen, followed by a speech by Aisha Afandi, a member of the Kobani Council of Martyrs' Families. She said:

"We Kurds, wherever we are, will always stand by one another no matter the distance, because we are one spirit. Assaulting women is something that cannot be tolerated, especially Kurdish women, who have been role models for women around the world in many fields."

She added: "During the years 2013, 2014, and 2015, Kurdish women demonstrated their strength to the world and were pioneers in struggle and resistance. The Women's Protection Units represented the military and political identity of the Kurdish people. What happened in Tal Hasel and Tal Aran is another attack against the Kurdish people, and we, the people of Kobani, will stand with them as we always have."

Afandi also referred to the agreement signed on January 29 between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the interim government, saying: "We call on the interim government to honor its commitments and implement the agreement in a way that ensures genuine integration. As the Kurdish people, we extended the hand of peace and supported peace initiatives because we believe in peace, justice, equality, and democracy. We are not advocates of war. We are one people and will continue to support one another across all parts of Kurdistan."

The sit-in concluded with participants chanting: "Long live the resistance... Long live the people's resistance."

ANHA