YPG affirms on Qaraçokh attack anniversary: We will protect our people and our gains with same spirit

The People’s Protection Units (YPG) Media Center issued a statement today, on the ninth anniversary of the Turkish occupation state’s attack on Mount Qaraçokh, which resulted in the martyrdom of 20 fighters and war correspondents. The text reads:

"While the People's Protection Units (YPG) were conducting liberation operations against ISIS mercenaries throughout Syrian territory, the Turkish occupation state targeted Mount Qaraçokh, which served as the headquarters of the YPG and YPJ (Women's Protection Units), along with the units' media center, the Rojava Radio Center, and several military facilities, with airstrikes on the morning of April 25, 2017.

This attack resulted in the martyrdom of 20 commanders and fighters, including three members of the YPG and YPJ military media, who had played a leading role in the struggle for Kurdish and human freedom and contributed significantly to the defeat of ISIS mercenaries. Eighteen other commanders and fighters were wounded.

Throughout the Syrian revolution, the Rojava revolution in Kurdistan has always been a target of external attacks, from al-Nusra Front to ISIS. A difficult struggle has been waged, especially since the ISIS terrorist organization, which posed a major threat to the entire world, had seized control of many strategic areas in Iraq and Syria, endangering all of humanity.

The fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) stood as an impenetrable barrier against this terrorist organization, inflicting its first defeat in Kobani within the territory of Rojava, Kurdistan. The courage and sacrifices of the Rojava Revolution fighters gradually spread throughout Syria, and they advanced towards Raqqa, the capital of ISIS's so-called caliphate.

At that historical juncture, when the eyes of the entire world were focused on the operations of the YPG, YPJ, and SDF against ISIS, the Turkish occupation state launched a barbaric attack on the operations command center. Mount Qaraçokh served as the central command headquarters for the YPG/YPJ, the units' media center, Rojava Radio, and several other military facilities. Therefore, it was targeted primarily to destroy the command center for the war against ISIS and all the efforts that were informing the world about this battle.

More than 25 warplanes belonging to the Turkish occupation state bombed Mount Qaraçokh, revealing the true stance of all the forces involved in the war against ISIS.

Although the aim of this attack was to undermine the achievements of the Rojava Revolution and halt the war against ISIS to prevent the organization's defeat, the People's Protection Units (YPG), the Women's Protection Units (YPJ), and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), along with the targeted institutions, continued their work with even greater strength. The defeat of ISIS, which was the greatest threat to humanity, was presented as a gift from the fighters of the Rojava Revolution to humanity.

At that time, too, the blood of the martyrs was not shed in vain, and no step was taken back in the fight to protect the gains of the revolution. The lives of our people were protected, and just as we did then, today we will protect our people and our gains with the same spirit. In safeguarding the achievements of our martyrs, we will not waver from our goal of a free life and a democratic Syria.

We remember the martyrs of Qaraçokh with deep gratitude and express our respect for their struggle and sacrifices. In them, we remember all the martyrs of the revolution, pledging to fulfill their dreams and aspirations.

Sh-S

ANHA