In Syria, the Al-Qaeda-affiliated group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), led by Golani, took power with the support of imperialists and the reactionary states of the region, including the Turkish state, after Bashar
al-Assad left Syria. Since HTS took power, the intensity of the attacks on the women’s revo- lution of Rojava has increased. The Turkish colonial state and its Syrian National Army (SNA) continue their attacks. However, the YPJ, QSD, and communist fighters from Rojava are resisting.The fighters of the Şehit Serkan Battalion, who are located at the fronts of Tishreen, Qereqozak, and Deyr Hefir, reported their experiences in the fight against the occupiers just before March 8.

How do you assess the attacks and resistance in your region?

Awaz:
I want to begin my words in these days of resistance by honoring the immortalized fighters who gave their lives to defend the revolutionary areas and the achievements of women, as well as commemorating the fallen of the Tishreen resistance. We promise our people: their blood will not go unavenged, we will take revenge. After the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the partitioning of Syrian territories has come into question. The Turkish bourgeois colonial state is attempting to secure a share of this colonial division. After the occupation of Efrîn in 2018 and the subsequent displacement of the population, who now live in Shehba, the city of Manbij was also occupied. Since December 8, the heroic resistance of the YPJ, QSD, and the fighters of the Şehit Serkan Battalion has continued along the Tishreen, Qereqozak, and Deyr Hefir line. The 60-year-old Assad regime was handed over to the HTS gangs within ten days through the intervention of the USA and Britain. Golani, once the leader of the Al-Qaeda gangs, is now presented to the world as the new leader of the Syrian regime. While the HTS and the “Golanis” are presented as moderate Islamists, the Alawite population, especially in the cities of Tartus and Latakia, is being attacked before the eyes of the whole world. Alawite women are being sexually tortured and murdered. Amid all this, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria continues to defend its land and its resistance to protect the women’s revolution of Rojava. The Turkish colonial state, with its advanced technology, has not been able to cross the Tishreen Dam for over 60 days. The fighters of the YPJ, QSD, and the Şehit Serkan Battalion produce their own drones to counter the most advanced reconnaissance planes, defend themselves in war tunnels, and resist all difficulties with great will and determination.

On which fronts and operations has your battalion been involved so far? How do women position themselves
on these fronts?

Barîn:
So far, our battalion has been involved in the battles of Deyr He-fir, Qereqozak, Tishreen, and in the defense of Kobanê. As fighters, we participate in assassination and sabotage operations on these fronts. We take part in operations against the occupation gangs of the Turkish state. The resistance that we, as women, lead against the gangs has much deeper significance, as these gangs represent misogynistic ideologies.

What does it mean to stand as communist fighters on the frontlines against the occupation attacks of the Turkish state?

Awaz:
As fighters, we stand with great anger and determination against the Turkish state and its gangs. It wasn’t long ago that these gangs sold Yazidi women as sex slaves in Shengal, captured and tortured wounded fighters in Manbij. We know our enemy very well. Our fight is based on this awareness.

Can you share some experiences from the fight against the Islamist gangs?

Barîn:
Recently, we participated in an operation against the gangs. From the beginning, we were involved with great determination and motivation. We could hear the Takbir shouts of the gangs, as well as their screams filled with fear and pain after our bullets and mines hit them. As female fighters, we carry a grenade in our pocket during every operation. Because for all of us, one thing is clear: we will never fall alive into the hands of the enemy. No one will be able to defeat this will and determination. We know that betrayal leads to capitulation, but resistance leads to victory.

How does the great resistance of the population in Tishreen reflect in your struggle?

Barîn:
The resistance here is not independent of the death-defying resistance of the population at the Tishreen Dam. Without the support of our people, the resistance that has lasted here for two months would not be so strong. We draw great strength from the resistance of our people. Our people, in turn, fight with even greater determination through the strength of our resistance. We complement each other. In fact, it is a collective popular resistance. From the children to the elderly, from women to men – the population of North and East Syria is directly connected to this resistance. This revolution has once again proven to be a revolution of the peoples.

On the eve of March 8, you are as fighters in the resistance positions. What does this mean to you?

Awaz:
First of all, we congratulate all working women on March 8. I commemorate the comrade Avaşîn Tekoşin Güneş (Ivana Hoffmann), who fell on March 7, 2015, in the fight against the ISIS gangs in Tell Tamer. From here, we greet the fighters of the Avaşîn Tekoşin Battalion. We call on the women of North and East Syria to join the communist battalions of Rojava and fight for the defense of the revolution. At the same time, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Women’s Organization (KKÖ). A militant salute to all communist women worldwide who are fighting against patriarchal capitalism, heterosexism, and fascism. The women’s revolution of Rojava fights for freedom and humanity for all women. This revolution is the light of hope for women and all the oppressed. As carriers of the fire, we strive to make the fire of the revolution burn brightly. All women must arm themselves and increase the resistance against the enemies of the revolution.Until today, we have spoken of over five thousand years of oppression. We were murdered, we tried to make our voices heard, we were imprisoned because we defended ourselves, we were raped and blamed for it. Now women are saying: enough! Today, our courage, which defies death in Tishreen, Qereqozak, Deyr Hefir, Kobanê, and Tell Tamer, spreads to the whole world. Today, we call on all our sisters worldwide to say that our Zılgıts in Tishreen will triumph over death.

Barîn:
We give each other strength as oppressed women worldwide. Whether in Turkey, Kurdistan, Europe, or anywhere in the world every resistance by a single woman means a victory for millions of her fellow women. This year, we, as communist women, will dedicate every one of our actions on March 8 from the frontlines to the victory over fascism, colonialism, and occupation.
Our March 8 will stand for victories and freedom!