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).

Hundreds of citizens from Kobanê city in the Euphrates Canton took over the vigil at the dam on Saturday.

This morning, people started environmental cleaning in the vicinity, vowing to protect the dam against attacks by the invading Turkish army and allied mercenaries.  They stated that they derive their determination from the resistance of Kobanê against ISIS.

The activists stressed that they will not leave the dam no matter how violent the attacks might be.

Emphasizing that protection of the dam is a national duty, the activists said: “We are here to prove to the occupying Turkish state that we are the owners of this land, and we will not abandon our land no matter how harsh the attacks are. We will protect the dam and continue our struggle until all occupied territories are liberated.”