YPG Kobanê Commander: Turkish state’s role is documented

YPG Kobanê Commander Cemil Mazlum who spoke to ANF stated that the documents they seized include plans of the massacre and one attacking group came to Kobanê from Turkey. YPG Kobanê Commander Cemil Mazlum said that although the investigation continues, initial findings show that the Turkish state carried out part of the attack. Mazlum stated that the Turkish state was planning invade Rojava because it was afraid of Rojava’s unification as well as the bond YPG/YPJ is building with Turkmen people.

What was the goal and meaning of the massacre of civilians in Kobanê?

Firstly, we condemn this brutal ISIS massacre and offer our condolences to the families of our martyrs. We bow with respect to the comrades who fell as martyrs as they bravely resisted the massacre.

The goal of the attack was to target the gains of Kurdish people and prevent the new model we are setting up in Kobanê and Rojava. They carried out the attack when many Kobanê residents were returning to their homes from Turkey, they wanted to prevent people’s return. Another dimension of the attack is the fear and desperation of ISIS gangs, which is a result of their recent losses and enables them to carry out any type of dirty war method.

What is the role of the Turkish state?

According to our findings, the Turkish state gave substantial support. 84 ISIS gangs attacked Kobanê and the documents we seized indicate that one attacking group infiltrated from Turkey. The 2 ISIS gangs we caught after the Egyptian gang member also gave us information that confirms this finding.

What kind of documents are there?

The documents include the plan of the attack and information on which roads the gangs were planning to use before and after the massacre. The plans show that one group infiltrated from Turkey and another came from Sirîn. A reinforcement group from Cerablus was to attack through Qarakozak, so the Cerablus line the Turkish state discusses was used for the attack of two ISIS groups. The investigation is ongoing but our initial findings show that Turkey carried out the attack.

As a YPG commander, what can you say about the precautions that should be taken in the face of such attacks?

Considering the scope of the attack and the support it received, we can describe the resistance of our forces as heroic. However, the massacre shows that we had weaknesses in terms of taking necessary security measures. We have to provide civilians with our self-criticism, and we are working towards improving the role of Asayiş forces, YPG, self-defense forces, and fighters in the villages. We will improve ourselves with the precautions we take and prevent future attacks. We received intelligence that some members of the Ebu İsa group from FSA provided the attackers with support and information. We are trying to uncover the details of this support and we will share the information we receive with the public.

What is the situation of the war in Kobanê?

Our operations in the western and eastern fronts of Kobanê ended with success, and we launched an operation in order to expulse the gangs from the southern front. Lastly, we began our initiative to liberate Sirîn, which is a revenge operation. Our initiative continues and we will liberate Sirîn.

What can you say about the Turkish state’s plans to invade Cerablus?

After recent YPG/YPJ successes, the Turkish state fears that the ISIS gangs in Cerablus, Ezaz, Minbic and Bab would be expulsed. The Turkish state is upset because of the unification of Rojava and the gains of Kurdish people. Another source of fear is the bond of sisterhood we build with Turkmen people all the way from Cerablus to Efrin. The Turkish state rushes to invade because of such fears, but everyone knows what their invasion means and how it would be responded. We will do all that is necessary for protecting the peoples of Syria from ISIS brutality and liberating our people.