Since 8 January, civilians from North-East Syria have been holding a vigil at the Tishrin Dam to protect their territory alongside the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Women's Defense Units (YPJ), who are confronting attacks by the Turkish army and allied mercenaries called the Syrian National Army (SNA) ongoing since 2024. Every day, people from different walks of life go to the dam to provide moral support and defend it. Women and mothers are at the heart of the popular resistance.

In a statement on Monday, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria said that through violent attacks directed against the life resources and infrastructure of their region since January 2025, the occupiers aimed to break the will of the freedom-loving peoples.

The statement continued: “Hostile attacks have intensified around the Tishrin Dam, systematically carried out by the occupying Turkish state and its mercenaries. The Tishrin Dam is the region's largest source of energy. Attacks on this dam, which serves millions of people, have been met with resistance from the Kurdish, Arab, and Syriac peoples.

On January 8, hundreds of people, mainly women's and youth organizations, headed to the Tishrin Dam to join the resistance to protect the gains of the people. Our people, who formed a shield around the SDF and YPJ forces, have since protected their gains in a spirit of mobilization.

This resistance enabled heroic epics to be written in the war. Through this resistance, the people of North and East Syria proved that they would not accept a life of dishonor. The Tishrin Dam became a place where young people wrote revolutionary epics. This resistance, which will be written in gold letters in the pages of history, was achieved through the efforts of dozens of martyrs.

We bow with respect before the memory of the martyrs Menice, Kerem Şehabi, Harûn, Eziz Ereb, Bavê Teyar, and Ronahî Efrîn. We honor all the martyrs who sacrificed their lives on the path to freedom. We wish a speedy recovery to all the wounded. We promise that their efforts will not be in vain.

This resistance, which has continued with great sacrifice for over 100 days, has brought about significant gains. We proudly announce that this resistance has achieved victory, paved the way for new victories, and thwarted further threats.

As the Autonomous Administration, we salute everyone who contributed to this resistance.

We also salute the efforts of the healthcare workers who have worked tirelessly during this process. We respectfully commemorate the sacrifices of the press workers in the persons of Cihan, Nazım, and Egid Roj. We salute the free press workers who stand with their people and serve as their voice.

The Tishrin Dam has become a symbol of national unity. It stands as a living example of resistance against the Turkish state and its mercenaries.”