ANF, Serêkaniyê — Clashes between Turkey-backed armed groups and People’s Defense Units (YPG) forces are getting severer in the West Kurdistan city of Serêkaniyê. At least 84 members of the armed groups were killed and dozens of others injured by YPG forces in clashes from 16 to 18 January.
The armed groups, reportedly called Ahrar-ı Resul, Ahrar Heran and Şuheda El Tahiriye, entered the city by crossing the border over Turkey on 16 January. The groups which are armored with heavy weapons and tanks launched an expansive attack on the same day, targeting the civilian locations as well. The group was immediately responded by YPG forces, fighters responsible for ensuring the security in the Kurdish area.
The most recent attack of the armed groups was carried out with seven tanks which were also brought into the city via Turkey-Syria borders. The attack heavily damaged the houses and the sub-structure of the city. Three tanks of the armed groups were destroyed and one other was damaged by YPG forces.
Sources close to YPG have reported at least 84 members of the armed groups have been killed in clashes from 16 to 18 January. The sources said six YPG members lost their life and four others were injured in the conflict.
Tens of thousands joined the funeral ceremony for YPG commander Lewend Qamişlo and YPG members Lezgîn Elî and Mihemed İlêwî who lost their life in the most recent clashes with the mentioned armed groups. YPG fighters were laid to rest in the city of Qamişlo on Sunday with slogans “şehit namirin”(martyrs are immortal).
According to the reports coming through, the armed groups buried their casualties near the Turkish border on Saturday. The wounded members of the groups were taken to the state hospital in Ceylanpınar (Urfa) with Turkish ambulances.
The armed groups have reportedly detained four civilians from the Kurdish city where the YPG forces are also supported by many Arab youths coming from a neighborhood city in response to the armed groups.
West Kurdistan Movement for Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) condemned the attacks which -it said- were planned by external powers, and by Turkey in particular. TEV-DEM said the the purpose of the attacks was to make the Kurdish region unstable and to exclude Kurds from the Syrian revolution by severing their ties with other peoples.
TEV-DEM called on all non-governmental organizations, democratic movements, circles and individuals to band together against the attacks and described this unity as “the fight for presence or absence”.
Turkey-backed armed groups have intensely been launching attacks on Kurds in the city of Serêkaniyê in recent months. The groups were however forced to retreat from the city each time as they suffered heavy losses in clashes with YPG forces.
The severe clashes in the city from 12 to 14 December ended up in an agreement mediated by West Kurdistan Movement for Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) and some other Kurdish and Arabic notables in the region on 17 December. According to the agreement, all armed forces would leave the city and a civilian council would be formed to manage the city, its border gates and officials.
On the other hand, a battalion affiliated to Syrian army has been under the blockade of YPG forces in the village of Girziro, in the city of Girkêlegê, since 12 January. One soldier was killed, eight regime-supporters were injured and seven others were taken captive by YPG forces in the clashes with the Syrian soldiers in the village before its control was taken by YPG. At least 27 soldiers from the battalion, which consists of around 200 soldiers, have reportedly joined YPG forces so far.
ANF NEWS AGENCY
(en.firatnews.com)