HESEKÊ - Stating that the attack against Hesekê was planned in Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî controlled by Turkey, YPG Press Spokesperson Siyabend Elî said, "Democratic Modernity is targeted".
The operation launched by the Internal Security Forces after the ISIS attack on the Sinai Prison in Hesekê's Xiwêran District on January 20 continues on the 7th day. There are nearly 5,000 ISIS detainees from Syria, Iraq and other foreign countries in Sinai Prison, which is the second largest prison and detention center in the region. In the ongoing operation, 550 ISIS members surrendered, nearly 200 ISIS members were killed. While the Internal Security Forces maintain control around and inside the prison, there are occasional clashes with ISIS members in the new parts of the prison.
People's Defense Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Gel-YPG) Press Spokesperson Siyabend Elî evaluated the situation in Hesekê to the Mesopotamia Agency (MA). Elî said that the forces behind the planned and organized attack on the prison, where 5,000 ISIS members are held, are known.
PEOPLE HELD IN SINAI PRISON HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
Stating that the Sinai Prison is an important place for the whole world, Elî said, "There are prisons in the region where the gangs we captured alive are held during our long struggle against ISIS gangs. With the liberation of Baxoz in 2019, the domination of ISIS came to an end. With the defeat of ISIS, 10 thousand gang members, including their families, surrendered to our forces. After that, additional blocks was built in the Sinai Prison. Around 5 thousand ISIS gang members were being held in Sinai Prison. There is no other prison in the world where so many ISIS terrorists are held together. The administrators and commanders of ISIS were being held in the prison. Those 4 thousand prisoners were not ordinary ISIS members. This is why the eyes of the whole world are on Hesekê today. Those detained in Sinai prison have committed crimes against humanity."
ISIS IS REGROUPING
Stating that the attack on the prison has been planned for 6 months, Elî noted that 120 ISIS members from Serêkaniyê and Girê Spî, which are under the control of Turkey and its paramilitary forces, were brought to Hesekê to take part in the attack. Elî said, “The ISIS gangs we fought against from 2014 to 2019 are regrouping in Serêkaniyê and Girê Spi. They're being trained there and planning their attacks."
IT WOULD EFFECT THE WHOLE WORLD
Pointing out that the first day of the attack,January 20 is the anniversary of the attacks against Afrin, Elî said, “This attack was planned by Turkey and it was planned in the cities occupied by Turkey and the gangs affiliated with it. Other forces are help settle these people in Hesekê. This is not something we just heard from the ISIS prisoners here. On January 20 there were simultaneous attacks from multiple points against our forces from the occupation zones. The activity in the regions occupied by Turkey and the gangs it supports shows us who is behind the attack. Our forces were able to stop this plan to turn into a massacre. The whole world would be effected by it, not just Hesekê or Northern and Eastern Syria. The resistance in the face of this attack is a resistance that will go down in history."
DEMOCRATIC MODERNITY IS TARGETED
Expressing that the "Democratic Modernity" developed under the leadership of the peoples in the region was targeted with the attack in Hesekê, Elî said, "North and East Syria has proven itself in military, economic, political and all other fields in the 10-year conflict. The Autonomous Administration showed that all peoples and faiths can live together in Democratic Modernity. This stunned the invaders. Despite all the opportunities, the gangs they trained and equipped could not achieve their goals. Because in Democratic Modernity, the real power was is the people, not the army. With the strength Democratic modernity takes from the people, it grew day after day. This disturbed the invaders and they started targeting it."
TRIALS OF ISIS MEMBERS
Stating that the International Coalition was also involved in the ongoing operation in Hesekê, Elî said, “An international effort is required to eliminate the ISIS problem. This burden is not only the Autonomous Administration and SDF's burden and problem. The SDF has done everything in its power to stop and destroy this terror the world faces. What needs to be done next is the trial of these ISIS members. We hope that the attack will lead to a solution of this problem. This problem must be resolved."
OPERATIONS CONTINUE
Referring to the stage of the operations in the prison in Hesekê, Elî continued: “The operation in the prison continues. About 100 ISIS members are hiding in the newly built parts of the prison and there are occasional clashes with these ISIS members. In general, the prison is under the control of our forces. There is no way that these gang members can get out of the prison. A curfew is imposed throughout Hesekê as a precaution. At this point, the attitude of the people strengthens us. The fact that mothers who are old took up guns gives us morale. When we see mothers, fathers, youth, whole families behind us we see that there is no way these people who are aiming to destroy democratic modernity can achieve their goals. Just like we resisted when all forces withdrew in the face of ISIS attacks in 2014-2015, we will resist in Hesekê with the same spirituality. We will fulfill the promise of security we made to our peoples.”
MA / Emrullah Acar