Operations as part of the second phase of the Kobanê liberation operation have left one month behind.

YPG Commander Mahmud Berxwedan spoke to ANF about the latest situation in Kobanê, their next targets and the recent Suleyman Shah operation.

'Operation continues, villages largely cleansed'

Following the liberation of the Kobanê town centre, you launched an operation to liberate the villages which has left one month behind now. Could you assess the current situation?

The second phase of the operation began soon after the Kobanê town centre was cleansed of ISIS gangs on 26 January. This phase aims to cleanse all villages of Kobanê of ISIS gangs following the town centre. Within this process, more than half of the villages under ISIS occupation, over 220, have been liberated. Fierce clashes are taking place in the operations as the attacks of ISIS gangs are being broken every time. The gangs are trying to protect and hold the lines where they are present but our forces are not allowing them to do so, and they won't either. Our success and liberation operation will continue.

Heavy blow on ISIS reinforcements

Are the ISIS gangs attempting to make reinforcements and launch further attacks?

ISIS gangs have in recent days started to gather reinforcements with an aim to launch a fresh wave of attacks and make further advances. We have however strongly responded to the attack preparations and attempts of the gangs. Fierce clashes have taken place upon our harsh response and intervention that inflicted severe blows and losses on the gangs for the last three days. They suffered hundreds of casualties and we have seized at least 70 corpses of the gangs over the past three days of fighting. Yesterday they carried out attacks with heavy weaponry and tanks on the line of Bexdike and İdani on the eastern front. They suffered many casualties and heavy blows and their tanks were destroyed as a result of our strong response to the attacks.

Latest situation on four fronts

Could you assess the latest situation on four fronts of Kobanê for us?

A number of villages have been taken from the ISIS on the western front. There are only four villages left under ISIS control. Besides the villages formerly controlled by us, we have also seized 10 new villages such as Cade, Kube, Kasimi. In many areas, we have reached up to the Euphrates. It is only the Shexler line and a few surrounding villages left to be liberated from the gangs as our operations and violent clashes are continuing. In west Kobanê, we have advanced beyond the line we held before the 15 September attack. We have also cleansed some villages populated by Arabs on the western line. The Arab people here appreciated the liberation of their villages and thanked YPG/YPJ forces for managing it.

'All villages on the southern front liberated'

We have liberated all the villages on the southern front that had been under our control before 15 September. In addition, three more villages by the name of Nasiro, Xeruz and Cade have been added to this. We are two kilometers close to the Karakuzak bridge on this front.

On the other hand, we have yet to advance four more kilometers to reach the line we had held o the eastern and southeastern fronts before 15 Sept. We will soon complete our advance to these lines.

'All Kurdish-inhabited areas will be liberated'

Will you continue your operations after you've reached those lines?

We are not aiming to liberate the villages within the borders of Kobanê alone. We will liberate all the Kurdish villages in Tal Abyad, Raqqa and other regions that are administratively affiliated to the regime. Within this context, our target is to liberate all the Kurdish villages after taking all those within the territory of Kobanê.

'We target there where the ISIS is present'

Once the areas you have mentioned are liberated, will you initiate an operation on Tal Abyad line?

We are currently making our plans on the basis of cleansing and liberating all the ISIS-occupied areas in Kobanê. As we declared before, our target is the ISIS gang organization, not the Arab people nor the areas inhabited by them. In this sense, YPG will be targeting all the areas where ISIS gangs are present and destroy them, either in Tal Abyad, Raqqa or Sirrine. Wherever the ISIS is, we will be targeting there.

Is it possible for ISIS to remake an advance towards Kobanê?

Our people should feel comfortable as the ISIS gangs didn't manage to hold on and remain in Kobanê where a majority of them was destroyed. The rest part of their forces was on the other hand forced to retreat from the town centre. The ISIS gangs weren't driven away from villages because they fled; they wanted to resist but couldn't succeed it in the face of our operations and attacks. We smashed them in the villages before driving them away. In this regard, it cannot be said that ISIS withdrew its forces and might come back when they want. They now have no chance to attack and advance in Kobanê once again. The ISIS gangs cannot hold the areas where they are present, they are bringing in mercenaries to these areas and making the children engage in the battle.

'No one can pass through Kobanê without our permission'

The Turkish state carried out an operation with the support of the YPG in order to move the Suleyman Shah tomb from its site. The Turkish President and Prime Minister however said they had conducted the operation without receiving permission or support from anyone. Could you tell us about the Suleyman Shah tomb operation?

The Turkish state authorities must accept and speak of the already evident reality of this operation. It is not easy nor possible to pass through Kobanê without the approval of the YPG.

For this operation, Turkish officials held five meetings with YPG commanders. Separate talks also took place. Our attitude on this issue was on a human basis. We didn't consider it impossible to help and support Turkey, which we take as a neighbor and friend, that needed help while its soldiers and national symbols were under danger there. We opened the way for them and led their forces along the route. This is how and why we contributed Turkey in moving the soldiers and the symbols of the Turkish people. Officials of the Turkish state should have thanked the YPG and avoided denying their part. As a matter of fact we were much surprised at this denialist attitude of theirs. We are neighbor and always ready for support but it is not true to ignore and deny our role in this way.

Did the operation mark a major military success as was asserted by the Turkish state and press?

First of all, the operation doesn't involve a military success as no single bullet was fired during the operation. In the face of this truth, no one can talk about a military success. During the operation we listened to the devices of the ISIS gangs and witnessed them instructing each other to not to conduct any attacks. In this regard, it is evidently understood that a talk with the ISIS gangs had taken place and an agreement had been reached beforehand. We can therefore say that it was a diplomatic success, but never a military one. Our forces took measures around the Karakuzak bridge and ensured security over the course of the operation.

'Ashme village opened temporarily'

What sort of a process took place between the YPG and the Turkish state regarding the moving of the tomb to the Ashme village?

Following a series of talks with the PYD and a process of persuasion, it was decided to open an area in the village for the tomb which will remain there for a temporary period until it is moved to a safer place in the long term. The site opened for the tomb in Ashme village is the land of democratic Syria and Kurdistan. This site will host the values of the Turkish people and remain under the protection of YPG/YPJ.

'Victory is close'

Finally, do you have any message?

Victory is close as the resistance and battle of Kobanê is going on while ISIS gangs are continuing their attacks in some areas. Nothing is over yet and the sensitivity for Kobanê should continue.