NEWS CENTER – Journalist Özgür Avzem, reporting on the latest situation in Kobanê, said that fierce clashes took place during the night and that the attacking groups suffered heavy losses. Avzem said: “The people are gathered around the fighters and are waiting for the Bakur (North Kurdistan, Turkey) people to across border.”

 

The city of Kobanê in North and East Syria is under siege by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), ISIS and Turkish-backed paramilitary groups. The attacking groups, acting in concert with Damascus, have cut off the city’s electricity and water supply. Most recently, internet providers have also been affected by the attacks. 

 

Both the people and the fighters are on high alert against the siege throughout the city. It has been reported that some villages in the city were targeted during the night, but the groups withdrew after retaliation.

 

WHAT IS THE LATEST SITUATION? 

 

Özgür Avzem, a journalist in Kobanê, reported the latest situation to the Mezopotamya Agency (MA). 

 

Avzem saidç "Last night, fighting continued in Qube, Cadê and Mexreca villages. At around 3:00 a.m., the gangs suffered heavy blows and withdrew. The gangs suffered heavy losses, particularly in the clashes in Çelebi.”

 

Noting that the attacking groups had withdrawn, Avzem added: “However, according to the information we have received, they are gathering their forces and preparing for a new attack.”

 

‘ALL ATTACKS WERE REPULSED’

 

Avzem stated that all of yesterday’s attacks had been repulsed, saying, “Many armoured vehicles were destroyed or captured. There were also clashes overnight in Hamduna village. They continued until 3:00 a.m. There too the people and fighters responded to the attacks together.”

 

Avzem also reported that the attackers massacred many civilians in the village of Qube, Cade, where Arabs live. 

 

PLAN TO SURROUND FROM 3 SIDES 

 

Avzem pointed out that Kobanê was to be surrounded from 3 sides, saying, "They want to advance from Çelebi, Qube Cade and Şêxler. But here, the fighters' effective operations are not giving the gangs any breathing space." 

 

LEGITIMATE DEFENCE 

 

Avzem said that fierce clashes also took place in the town of Sirrîn and that a silence prevailed towards morning. Avzem stated that Damascus did not even comply with its own "ceasefire" decision, "The fighters are responding to the attacks on the basis of legitimate defence," he said.  

 

KOBANÊ'S EXPECTATIONS FROM BAKUR 

 

Avzem pointed out that the public was very angry about the water and electricity cuts: "This situation will lead to a humanitarian disaster. The public's basic needs are being targeted. However, despite all this, the public is united around the fighters. The people of Bakur are expected to come to the Kobanê-Pirsûs (Suruç) line. All statements made here call on the people of Bakur. They are asked to cross the borders and take their places in the resistance ranks in Kobanê." 

 

KOBANÊ RESIDENTS WILL BE AT THE BORDER

 

 

Avzem noted that the people in Kobanê are organised neighbourhood by neighbourhood, street by street, in a 24-hour vigil, and finally pointed to the march expected to take place today in the Pirsûs district of Riha (Urfa). Avzem shared the information that “the people of Kobanê will also go to the Suruç border at 13:00.)”