As the final phase for the Operation Cizire Storm draws near, ISIS gangs receive blow after blow from YPJ’s female fighters. The undying friendships that emerge in the fronts meanwhile show that the war isn’t just against fascism and the life of freedom for women is being built step by step in the Middle East.

YPJ’s Azadi Avesta and Ruken Rojhilat are always alert with fingers on trigger, go into clashes together and fight in the fore fronts without fear. In the desert operation, the YPJ duo are famous for removing the wounded from intense clash zones, leading attack groups, keeping watch for hours in the defense zones, intimidating ISIS with DShK type heavy weapons and Hammer type armored vehicles, all the while keeping their smiles on their faces. They are both loving, they both give the enemy nightmares and they are both courageous women who have dedicated their lives to the revolution. They are laborious fighters running to take on all duties in the front.

AZADI HAS BEEN IN THE YPJ FOR THREE YEARS

YPJ’s Azadi Avesta is a young female fighter from Siirt. She marches towards the enemy in almost every operation with heavy armored vehicles in the positions of Deir ez-Zor. Like many women, she also decided to take up arms because of vile ISIS attacks on women. “My family were patriots but didn’t know the YPJ. With the effect of religion, there was great pressure on women in my family. In time, as I got to know the YPJ and saw the approach towards women, my desire to join increased,” said Avesta and summarized her process:

TOOK UP ARMS AGAINST ISIS MENTALITY

“ISIS was carrying out great massacres everywhere. So many women were abducted in Shengal, so many girls were sold off in markets to old men as property. ISIS did this in the name of religion and Islam, through massacres. So I joined the YPJ during that time. We could only respond to this mentality with guns. Our responsibility was to take positions against ISIS, strengthen ourselves and fight. The YPJ did all they could for this, and our goal is to fight and destroy ISIS.”

IN THE ARMORED VEHICLE BATTALION

Azadi Avesta has been in the YPJ since 2014. She participated in the Hol, Martyr Rubar, Raqqa and many other operations. “Before I was in the mobile battalion and participated in all attacks. Now I’m in the armored vehicle battalion,” said Avesta and added: “I’m very pleased with my post. I really love what I do. Armored vehicles create a severe psychology in the enemy. They are bulletproof, so we suffer less casualties. In attacks we can advance faster thanks to this vehicle.”

MAGNIFICENT DUO

Azadi said: “Me and Heval Ruken take positions in the armored vehicle and the DShK mounted on it. We transport groups, supplies and equipment. We take every opportunity created by the armored vehicles in the frontlines. When there is an attack or a clash, it is us who can go in as first responders, we can remove the wounded from clash zones. Our job really requires enthusiasm and will. It requires a desire, if you don’t have it it’s very hard to succeed.”

TOGETHER FOR THREE MONTHS

Azadi continued: “We have been together with Heval Ruken for three months. We mostly do things together, preparing and cleaning the DShK, driving the vehicle, we usually do everything together. We prepare for attacks together. We do everything collectively. Unity is very necessary for us, that is how we can deliver harsher blows to the enemy.”

YPJ THE HOME OF THE WILL

Azadi Avesta pointed out that the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the YPJ is a “will”: “Because if a person doesn’t have will, they can’t handle coming face to face with a massacrist mentality like ISIS. The will and strength we have is based on Leader Apo. It’s not so simple, it’s not easy to fight. If we didn’t take our strength from Leader Apo, we couldn’t have had this will. Women is seen as without will in society. YPJ is smashing these beliefs. As a woman, it makes me happy to be part of the YPJ. Women are not equal and free in society as they are in the YPJ. Women are seen as slaves in society, there are cliches you have to fit. There is nothing of the sort in the YPJ. Women have a will and strength. Women can resolve anything.”

Azadi Avesta stated that the thing she finds most difficult among the intense clashes is the hitches they encounter in the battle field and shared some examples: “In one operation, there were intense clashes in an area with some comrades. We were me, Heval Ruken and two male comrades. We were on our way to intervene, but the enemy was very close to our comrades. The Hammer I was driving got stuck in a ditch, and I couldn’t get it out. So we were late for the intervention. I couldn’t get there in time and that has haunted me since.

In another example, we had an accident with the Hammer. I was in a great accident, and however unwittingly, even though it was an accident, I harmed the YPJ. I’m still hung up on that accident.”

WOMEN! RISE!

As a fighter in the fore front of the war against ISIS, Azadi’s message to women is: “Rise up to avenge our heroic martyrs. Let the women of the whole world hear my voice, see us, see the YPJ against the claims that women have no will or strength, rise up. All women, see us and rise up, and avenge our heroes. As women, all should take up resistance against this ISIS tyranny.”

I BECAME DEVOTED AS I GOT TO KNOW THEM

Ruken Rojhilat was a student before she joined the YPJ: “I did my research and I wanted to join. After I joined, I knew them deeper, and as I got to know them I became more devoted. I saw the will and strength of women with the YPJ. I overcame the characteristics imposed on me by society. The source of this success was YPJ’s strength.”

IN DEIR EZ-ZOR AFTER RAQQA AND SHENGAL

Ruken also participated in many operations against ISIS, like Azadi. “I was in the Shengal and Raqqa operations, and now I’m in Deir ez-Zor,” said Ruken and added that the most difficult thing for her was when her comrades were martyred: “When comrades get wounded or are martyred it is very hard on me. But I draw strength from these, I fight to avenge them as well, I grow my fury, I want to take a bigger part in operations room fight against ISIS. I volunteered to be in the Deir ez-Zor Operation.”

YPJ IS COLORFUL

Being in the YPJ has changed Ruken’s life and worldview, like it has for so many women. “YPJ is colorful, with diversity in every area and in every way, and with the value it puts on women,” said Ruken and stressed that, “If YPJ participates in an operation, that is both very meaningful and a sign of success. It is success. The YPJ plays its role everywhere. We saw this in Raqqa, and here it plays its role strongly as well. YPJ is a successful movement, and it will continue like this. Almost all ISIS attacks have been foiled by the YPJ. This shows the YPJ’s strength, and we derive our strength from the YPJ.”

FRIENDSHIPS IN THE BATTLE FRONT CAN’T BE FORGOTTEN

Ruken Rojhilat also stressed that the friendships in the battle front are very meaningful and unforgettable and continued: “In the Deir ez-Zor operation, when Heval Azadi was on duty in the armored vehicle I was appointed the DShK operator alongside her. Our friendship and comradery is very strong. I have so many beautiful memories with the team mates I stay with here, their morale gives me morale and increases my enthusiasm.”

THEY SHARE BOTH LIFE AND WAR

Ruken said the following on the role they played in the Deir ez-Zor operation with Azadi: “I met Heval Azadi in the Deir ez-Zor operation. First we were transporting groups, we went in for emergency interventions, and we also transported martyrs and the wounded. When we go to a strategic point we discuss and decide together. She adjusts the Hammer’s position while I position the DShK just right. When the DShK has an issue we fix it together. We complete each other. We listen to each other while positioning the vehicle, we decide together. Azadi coordinates me, tells me about the movements. We have this collective effort.”

WE MESSED WITH ISIS’ PSYCHOLOGY

Ruken said the following on the effect the DShK she uses in the Deir ez-Zor operation had on ISIS: “DShK is a weapon with a psychological effect. Here there is open swathes of land. Because there are large distances, the DShK is an important weapon. And that creates a psychological effect and breaks the enemy. It is a very powerful weapon, and we use the DShK in operations frequently.”

TO THE POSITIONS FOR A FREE LIFE

Ruken Rojhilat also had a call for women: “I come from a place with social pressure. When I look from inside the YPJ on women’s place in society, hate grows in me, I want to work harder to free -women. Women have no will in society. Women should fight for a free life.”