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).

The popular resistance at the Tishrin Dam continues on its 59th day. Despite drone and artillery attacks, people are risking their lives to protect it from attacks by Turkey and its jihadist proxy army, the SNA.

Currently, the vigil at the Tishrin Dam is being maintained by people from Dêrik, Girkê Legê, Til Koçer and Çilaxa. Yesterday's day of protest was initiated by a group of young women with an action. Each of the women held up a letter that together formed the word “RiseUp4Rojava”. They chanted “Bijî Berxwedana Tişrînê” [Long live the resistance of Tişrin] and showed a flag of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a sign of solidarity.

The day continued with a theater performance and dancing to Kurdish and Arabic music. While several participants in the peace vigil formed a long chain and danced the Govend – the traditional Kurdish folk dance – artillery shells fired by Turkish jihadist occupation troops hit the dam in the immediate vicinity. The attacks were directed against SDF positions defending the dam against occupation by Turkey.

The Turkish army and Islamist forces loyal to Turkey have been conducting an offensive to occupy the Tishrin Dam, located south of Kobanê, for the past three months. When Bashar al-Assad's regime was overthrown on 8 December 2024, Turkey and its SNA mercenaries seized the opportunity to take the dam. The facility represents one of the few crossings over the Euphrates River and is crucial for Ankara to advance further to Kobanê.

However, the importance of the dam goes beyond a military-strategic purpose. Tishrin is essential for the survival of hundreds of thousands of people in the Euphrates Canton, as it is essential for the energy infrastructure and provides water and electricity. In December, the dam was so badly damaged by Turkish attacks that it is practically inoperable. According to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES), more than 400,000 people have been cut off from the water and electricity supply provided by Tishrin.

In addition to the dam, the vigil, promoted on January 8 by the People's Councils of the DAANES cantons on the site of the facility, is also constantly being attacked by Turkey and its jihadists. According to the autonomous administration, at least 25 civilians have been killed by drone and artillery strikes since the start of the protest, including local journalists and medics. More than 200 people have been injured, some seriously. Among them is the German physiotherapist Jakob Rihn.