YPG General Command shared outcomes of the 36 days long Hesekê operation with the public in a press conference in Hesekê. Several journalists and TV correspondents attended the press conference held in the YPG Mobilization and Public Relations Bureau in Hesekê. Accordingly, 386 gangs were killed, and 6 tanks and several guns were seized during the 36 days long operation. 21 YPG/YPJ fighters lost their lives during the offensives.

YPG/YPJ commander Ezîme Denîz spoke on behalf of YPG General Command and stated that ISIS gang first attacked Aliya and Meqbera villages as well as Xezil Company to the south of Hesekê city center controlled by the regime on June 24. Denîz noted that gangs soon occupied other neighborhoods previously under regime control such as Neşwa Rojhilat, Neşwa Rojava, Xiwêran, Ezîziyê and Vîlatên Sor (Red Villas), which brought Basil Junction under the siege of the gangs.

Denîz said that the withdrawal of regime forces from these areas enabled ISIS gangs to come closer to parts of Hesekê under YPG control, and residents of the recently occupied areas, particularly Arab people, requested from YPG/YPJ to protect them and expulse the gangs from the city. YPG Command reviewed civilians’ demands and responded positively, and this was the basis of the operation.

Denîz stated that the liberation of Hesekê came in 3 stages. In the first stage, YPG/YPJ cleared Ezîziyê and Xezil as well as nearby villages, the region between Xabûr creek and Mount Kewkeb, and the villages of Ub El-Şok, Felaha, and Humir from the gangs.

In the second stage, YPG/YPJ forces encircled the gangs and cut off their supply routes. Soon after, YPG/YPJ took control of the driving school, Ebyed village (Pira Spî), Children’s Hospital, Power Plant, Vîlatên Sor, Xezil company center, and the villages of Aliya, El-Meqbera, and Recman.

In the third stage, YPG/YPJ forces expulsed ISIS gangs from Neşwa Rojava, Neşwa Rojhilat, Natural Sciences Faculty of Fırat University, Basil Stadium, Zihur neighborhood, Resafê company center. Asayiş forces and commune-affiliated Social Defense Forces (HPC) also supported that third phase of Hesekê’s liberation.

YPG/YPJ commander Ezîme Denîz shared the following death toll of the 36 days long fighting:

386 ISIS gangs were killed, and YPG/YPJ had the bodies of 117 gangs. Several gang emirs (seniors) were killed, including the emirs of Hesekê and Dêra Zor. YPG/YPJ forces seized 338 Kalashnikovs, 20 BKC rifles, 17 RPG rocket propellers, 116 RPG rockets, 76 hand grenades, 32 shotguns, 6 pistols, 4 M-16s, 2 sniper rifles, 2 Uzi rifles, tens of mines, large amounts of Kalashnikov bullets and different military equipments, 1 night binocular, 1 mortar, 2 mortar shells, 6 tanks, 2 panzers, 18 military vehicles, 1 artillery, 1 truck, 8 doçka rifles and 1 motorcycle.

21 YPG/YPJ FIGHTERS LOST THEIR LIVES

YPG/YPJ commander Ezîme Denîz stated that 21 YPG/YPJ fighters lost their lives, and thanked everyone including the people of Hesekê and fighters of Asayiş, Senadîd, Social Defense Forces (HPC), and Erka Xweparstinê (Self-Defense) who supported them. Denîz also thanked the International Coalition for its air support, which came in coordination with YPG/YPJ and targeted ISIS bases.

‘OPERATION BEGAN UPON THE REQUEST OF DELEGATIONS FROM HESEKÊ’

Denîz emphasized that YPG/YPJ forces’ operation to liberate Hesekê came upon the request of delegations from the town, which had believed in the strength of YPG/YPJ and requested townspeople’s liberation from the anti-humanitarian treatment of ISIS. She reiterated that the operation was based upon this request, and ended in the successful expulsion of all ISIS gangs from Hesekê.

YPG/YPJ commander noted that Hesekê would be a model for Democratic Syria, based on a life of free will and the sisterhood of peoplesi and ended her statement by saying that they would continue to fight for people’s security, democracy, and freedom.