On its 26th day, YPG’s military campaign ‘Commander Rubar Qamişlo’ was expanded 25 km to the southwest of Mebrûka and and 63 km to the southwest of Serêkanîyê.

YPG’s military campaign ‘Commander Rubar Qamişlo’ aiming to clear western countryside of Cizirê canton from ISIS gangs has left 26 days behind. The first phase of the campaign that began in Serêkanîyê on May 6 was completed when Kizwan Mountain was liberated on May 21. The campaign continues 25 and 63 km to the southwest of Mebrûka and Serêkanîyê, respectively, in full force and in parallel to the Turkish border.

Between May 6 and 21, 221 villages and a distance of 110 kms were liberated. Since May 21, 60 villages and a distance of 100 kms have been liberated. ISIS gangs have failed to resist the YPG initiative and abandoned the villages they occupied right after planting hundreds of landmines here.

SHOCK EFFECT FOR THE GANGS

YPG initiative nearby Hasekê, however, was met with strong ISIS resistance. The confrontations in Til Mecdel, Rezazê and Aşra near Habur were particularly violent where the gangs used 3 explosive trucks, tens of suicide commandos, and thousands of landmines in order to slow down the YPG initiative. With its carefully planned tactical moves, YPG managed to break these ISIS defense lines near Habur and liberate the villages of Um El Mesamir and Hevice on the 13th day of the initiative, which in turn created a shock effect among the gangs.

YPG’s tactical move continued with the capture of the roads that lead to Mount Kizwan on the 14th day and the liberation of the mountain itself on the 15th day. Hundreds of gang members fled the area between Hesekê and Til Temir in response. The footage of ISIS gangs fleeing became public and reflects the broken psychological state of ISIS gangs.

YPG ADVANCE CONTINUES BEYOND THE MEBRÛKA-RAVYA-DEHMA LINE

YPG General Command organized a press conference in the Xebiş village of Til Temir, an area of strategic value for the gangs, on May 25. Here, officials stated that the first phase of the initiative that took place in Alyeden, Mount Kizwan and Hesekê was now completed. The operation in Mebrûka was also part of the initiative and inflicted heavy losses upon the gangs especially in the Ravya and Dehma regions. These areas were of central importance for the ISIS defense line between Serêkanîyê and Tilabya (Girê Spî), and functioned as the front line of Til Xenzir where heavy clashes continue.

FROM AN EMPIRE OF FEAR TO FLEEING

Gangs had evacuated the civilians in Mebrûka, Dehma and Ravya months ago and built secret underground tunnels and bunkers with explosive traps in case of an YPG attack. However, the gangs’ defeat near Habur where they died in hundreds became an indication of ISIS’s defeat near Mebrûka. The resistance of small ISIS units mainly composed of Central Asians and other foreigners also failed after the main gangs’ flight from the region. As they fled, gangs destroyed anything that stood on their way.

GANGS TAKE REFUGE IN TURKEY

YPG’s epic initiative continues the Rojava revolution unfolds, and more than 300 villages as well as a distance of 250 km have been liberated so far. Gangs have never experienced losses this frequent and their attempts to counter attack failed completely when their infiltration into Hol and Alye regions was stopped by the YPG on May 30. Having lost dozens of members everyday, ISIS gangs head for Turkish military posts across the border in order to take refuge. Coalition air strikes and YPG forces killed more than ten gang members near the Turkish border, and their bodies are constant reminders of the collaboration between ISIS and the Turkish state.

OUTCOMES OF THE INITIATIVE

As the YPG’s epic and heroic Commander Rubar Qamişlo Initiative enters its 27th day, the liberation of the western countryside of Cizirê canton continues. The initiative began in response to civilians’ demands for more protection in the region. ISIS threats continue as gangs attack Hesekê and other areas. Although the future of the initiative cannot be foreseen, significant gains for the democratic future of Rojava, Syria and Kurdistan at large have been made so far.
An important step has been taken for the liberation of the region’s inhabitants from the gangs as the YPG destroyed 3 ISIS command centers in Mount Kizwan.

CONFESSION OF DEFEAT

After their heavy losses, gangs confessed their defeat as they were heard saying "they can keep the land, may heaven be ours" via ISIS walkie talkies. The initiative that began in the Cizirê canton has expanded 63 km to the southwest of Serêkanîyê and YPG continues to liberate areas near the Tilabya border.