YPJ (Women's Defense Units) Kobanê Eastern Front Commander Biharin Kendal spoke to ANF about the Kobanê battle and the recent situation in the operation to liberate Girê Spî.

What is the recent situation in Kobanê, especially on the eastern front?

Our operation going on for a long time has progressed on the basis of liberation of Kobanê so far. On the western and southern fronts, we have reached the preceding borders we held before the beginning of the major wave of attacks on 15 September.

We have also reached the boundaries on the eastern front now. We are advancing in a controlled manner because the villages of Cirne, Xane, Heri, Kendale and Serzori are full of mines laid by the ISIS. The gangs are currently not present in these villages but we haven't entered them yet as an uncontrolled entrance could end up in casualties. The Kobanê part of the operation has been completed and followed by the phase of liberating Tel Abyad.

WE WILL UNITE THE CANTONS

What is the importance of liberation of Girê Spî?

We are making preparations for the Tel Abyad phase of the operation with an aim to unite the cantons of Kobanê and Cizîrê after entering the regions leading to Tel Abyad beyond Kobanê borders, to cleanse these areas of ISIS gangs and finally to liberate Tel Abyad. We are not treating this operation from a military perspective alone. We also aim to liberate the peoples enslaved by ISIS gangs. We want to liberate the areas, anywhere in Syria, where ISIS took people under their control and subject them to persecution, and to enable peoples to rule themselves freely.

On the other hand, Tel Abyad constitutes a line separating the cantons of Rojava. The liberation of Tel Abyad, which is a major stronghold of ISIS and breals the connection between the cantons of Kobanê and Cizîrê, and the uniting of the cantons will prevent the ISIS gangs to launch their attacks on both cantons from this region. In addition, the ongoing ISIS occupation in Tel Abyad brings along a serious embargo and encirclement on the Kobanê Canton. In consideration of all these points, the liberation of Tel Abyad is of crucial importance for both the Arab people living in that region, and the peoples living in the cantons of Kobanê and Cizîrê.

To us, it doesn't make any difference which peoples are living in these regions. We only aim to liberate this area, to free peoples from ISIS persecution, and to unite our cantons by removing this line that separates the cantons from each other.

What is the recent situation in the ongoing operation?

We are continuing our operations in east Kobanê in coordination with the Cizîrê Canton. As of today, our forces in Kobanê have made an advance of up to 10-12 kilometers towards Tel Abyad. Our operation towards Tel Abyad will also continue from the other lines on the eastern front. The operation for Tel Abyad is not advancing on a single line, we are making advances from many lines.

As part of our operation starting from Cizîrê, Mount Kizwan and Siluk town (we call it a town despite it being as large as a district at least) have been liberated. According to the most recent reports I have obtained, our forces have taken the road between Raqqa and Tel Abyad under their control. This road which ISIS gangs were using to bring in reinforcements has been cut off now.

ANY SUPPORT TO ISIS FROM NOW ON WILL BE COUNTED AS DONE BY THE TURKISH STATE

Do ISIS gangs have any other road under their control for bringing in their reinforcements?

It is not possible for ISIS gangs to deliver any reinforcements over this line. Apart from several villages, where they cannot make intense reinforcements, the Turkish gate is the only point where ISIS can get reinforcements.

Any kind of support and logistic aid to be provided to ISIS gangs from now on will be counted as enabled from the Turkish border crossing because of the fact that gangs have no other way to do this. As we have witnessed in person and also through press since the very beginning, the Turkish state is providing ISIS gangs with all kinds of support. If the Turkish state happens to help the ISIS gangs from Akçakale border crossing once again, it will definitely give account of this. The Turkish state every support possible to the gangs when they attacked Kobanê. This hasnt been forgotten yet. And if it provides a similar support again, we will never accept it.

How is the morale of the fighters of the YPG/YPJ?

I have been witnessing this war for a long time now but I have never seen the present excitement and morale among the fighters before. The excitement and enthusiasm gained with the liberation of Kobanê has become eternal with the beginning of the Tel Abyad operation. Every single fighter is very much eager to join the battle at the forefront to liberate Tel Abyad. I think words will fail to express the motivation of the fighters. Dozens of comrades we fought together dreamed of taking part in Tel Abyad operation. Many of them were martyred or wounded, and couldn't take place in this operation. I can say that this eagerness is felt by all the comrades participating the operation now. We are pleased to make their wish real but also deeply hurt by their absence. All our planning, determination and approach is based on the desire to be worthy of the comrades and martyrs we have left behind.

Turkey's media, that close to the AKP in particular, are spreading reports that the Turkmen and Arab people in the region have been displaced by the YPG/YPJ. What do you have to say in this regard?

There are almost no Kurds left in Tel Abyad, especially after the ISIS occupation began. It is the Arab and Turkmen people living in these areas at the moment. Our philosophy doesn't include a denial or exclusion of any of the peoples in this region. We aim to create free areas where everyone can represent themselves. As we stated before, what we aim with Tel Abyad operation is to make sure that all peoples live in a democratic environment.

BURKAN AL FIRAT FIGHTERS ARE CHILDREN OF THE ARAB PEOPLE

Isn't Burkan Al Fırat, with whom you conduct joint operations for the liberation of Tel Abyad, comprised of Arab fighters anyway?

True. Burkan Al Fırat is mainly made up of Arabs. Its fighters are children of the Arab people. The aim of our operations is not to drive the Arab and Turkmen people from this territory, but on the contrary, to create a free and equal life together with them.

The constitution of our cantons will also be prevailing for the peoples living here who will also gain equal representation in our cantons, leading a free life with their own identities and cultures. No one should ever doubt it. Various peoples and belief groups in the Cizîrê Canton are living in equality and fraternity now. The model applied in Cizîrê Canton will also be recognized in Tel Abyad and all the areas where YPG/YPJ are present. These peoples who have been enslaved under ISIS persecution are supporting our operations the Arab and Turkmen people that have now flocked to the border are fleeing ISIS cruelty.

Finally, what would you like to say regarding the victory achieved by HDP in the elections in North Kurdistan?

We congratulate the HDP victory and will answer it with the liberation of Tel Abyad. The importance of the HDP victory for the freedom and fraternity of peoples is as great as the importance of the Tel Abyad's liberation for the freedom of the peoples.

We also commemorate the victims of the bloody attack that targeted the HDP rally before the elections, and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. We reiterate our promise to remain loyal to our martyrs and to enhance the struggle. HDP's achievement of exceeding the threshold has been the most meaningful answer to our martyrs. We will also try to be worthy of their memories by liberating Tel Abyad. On this basis, we salute all the peoples of North Kurdistan and Turkey, of Amed in the first place, and congratulate their victory.