DMF #01 Internationalist Resistance from the Tunnels of the Tişirin Dam

Democratic Modernity Front-lines #01

A few days ago we received this letter written by an internationalist comrade who is currently taking part in the defence of Rojava against the invasion of the Turkish state. We wanted to share his words with you, which bear witness in the first person to the heroic resistance of the people of north-eastern Syria and their insistence on the free life created by the revolution.

“As it is well known the Turkish fascist state has been attacking the regions of North and East Syria since November as the revolutionary process here is a beacon of hope and a real alternative to the harsh reality of capitalist modernity. These attacks were stopped in the Tişirin dam and Qarakozah bridge as the Turkish mercenaries from the SNA wanted to advance towards Kobane - the 'Kurdish Stalingrad' - that marked the beginning of the defeat of ISIS in 2015.

The Tişirin dam is of great strategic importance. In normal times, it provides electricity for hundreds of thousands of inhabitants of north-eastern Syria and produces a very large quantity of drinking water thanks to a water purification system. It is also one of the few crossing points for the Euphrates. Knowing this, the mercenaries were faced with a great and historical resistance from the SDF fighters and could not gain terrain in this region. The resistance has been ongoing from the last 2 months and is entering its third one … in the beginning of the fight the SDF freedom fighters were attacked by waves of mercenaries supported by Turkish airstrikes and technology. There were many casualties in the first days of confrontation. Even though the whole Syria was coming to a process of decreasing fighting, making calls for the political situation in the region and the new established situation, the attacks on North and East Syria increased. Realizing the reality of the situation, the people of the revolution, the people of Rêber Apo, promptly rose up and moved towards the Tişirin dam in order to protest the unprovoked attacks of the turkish state and to demonstrate support for the SDF fighters resisting on the front lines (about 3 km from the dam).

Under the spirit of the revolutionary people's war, the peoples of Rojava formed real human shields to defend the dam, coming from every ethnic group and every part of north-eastern Syria. The barbarism of the Turkish state and its mercenaries once again demonstrated itself as they attacked these peaceful demonstrations many times causing the martyrdom of 26 civilians and the injuring of at least 200. As the world watches the scenes of military drones and suicide drones targeting civilians in the dam and stands quiet in front of these war crimes, the people do not step back. At the sound of each explosion the screams of "help we have an injured/martyred friend" were heard among the screams of slogans as "long live the resistance of the SDF" and "martyrs are immortal".As an internationalist comrade present in Rojava being present in these moments and living them among the people, our conviction in the revolution becomes one with the blood pumping in our hearts filled with adrenaline … these were really emotional moments, not only for the fact that we had injuries and martyrdoms but especially to see and live the strong spirit of the Apoist people, to realise the force which builds from the base of our efforts and victories is these people, these stances. The courage, the power in it is just unexplainable. As people flee from bombs, these people run towards one another to protect their fellow comrades on their side, knowing that this might be their last move. As bombs fell around us the slogans of resistance increased, the morale was elevated by each sound of explosion.

One might think we are crazy, there might be some truth to it … we are crazy for freedom, and to defend the revolution we will give our lives for it if necessary. After all attacks, the night in the dam would always finish with great morale. Dancing, singing music, presenting theater and so on. The people renamed the dam as the martyrs dam. One can feel the meaningful presence of the work and sacrifice made by every single one of these people that dedicated themselves there. As a revolutionary who decided to dedicate my life to the people, realising the results of all these years of the revolution, this historical stance is a place for humility and gratitude towards our brave people.At the same time, I had the opportunity to also play a role in the practical defense of the region as we joined ranks with our courageous comrades resisting on the front line. Although is not possible to share every details of the daily life here, so as to not compromise security concerns of the aspects from our defensive positions, I can share what we fell, what we live for and how we defend Tişirin and the revolution … life is harsh, the conditions in the beginning were not favorable for us and we had logistical problems, the friends in the tunnels were met with tunnels filled with water and not much material capacity (ammunition, food, water etc.). On one hand you had water until the level of your knees and on the other hand no drinkable water for days. The only factor that motivated the fighters was knowing what Tişirin means and what would happen if it would fall into their hands.

At the same time, witnessing the peoples resistance on the dam had a huge impact among the fighters. They saw their brave old women and men as their own mothers and fathers being there for them and, motivated by this spirit of the revolutionary people's war, they went to face the enemy and wave after wave of the mercenaries attacks they were defeated by the SDF. Yes, comrades fell martyrs, the friends could not move their bodies for days because of the constant flying of Turkish drones over our heads, we had injured friends, but that is the reality of the war. The true face of this resistance does not lay in military victories on the battlefield. The real resistance lies in each of every single one of these young women and men who got to understand deep down why we are fighting.

Here our first fight is with ourselves, to be able to carry on the daily works without fear, excuses and tiredness. The main factor that allows us to do so in these harsh conditions is our comradeship and our fate in our victory. Every comrade feels one another, supports one another, and carries our weight once we are tired. The spirit is strong and the meaning of our daily lives came to a different level since the sacrifice of the people at the martyrs dam. Right now the confrontations are less frequent, the attacks of the SNA are focused on the use of heavy weaponry and with the support of the Turkish state’s drones and war planes, much like the resistance on the free mountains of Kurdistan. We entered a new moment for Kurdistan and for the Revolution, there is much yet to happen and much still to be clear. However, here on the front lines of the Tişrîn dam, our goal and work is clear as the water from the dam we defend. We are ready, motivated and eager. We will not break down and under the spirit of the revolutionary people's war we will prevail once again against this barbaric fascist enemy. Long live the resistance in Tişirin Long live the people Victory or victory!”

March 2025

Pictures sent from the tunnels of the resistance: