The Kurdish umbrella group the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) has released a statement commemorating the 10th anniversary of the liberation of northern Syria’s Kurdish city of Kobani (Kobanê) from ISIS, a historic event that marked a significant victory for the Kurdish people and for the global fight against ISIS. The KNK praised the unparalleled sacrifice of the thousands who resisted ISIS, calling the liberation “a milestone in the broader Kurdish struggle for freedom.”
The battle for Kobani, which began in September 2014, became a focal point in the fight against ISIS’s brutal campaign of terror. On 26 January 2015, after months of intense fighting, Kurdish forces, led by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) and Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), with support from the International Coalitions to defeat ISIS, achieved victory.
“[The battle for] Kobanê was not just a battle for a city,” the KNK stated. “It was a struggle for humanity, for justice, and for the defence of the Kurdish identity.” The organisation called the liberation a collective effort uniting Kurds from all parts of Kurdistan with allies worldwide.
But the KNK also warned of ongoing challenges, citing Turkey’s persistent threats to the Kurdish autonomy in North and East Syria [Rojava]. The statement highlighted that Turkey continues its assaults on the region through military operations and proxy groups. “The Turkish state’s aggression is a direct continuation of ISIS’s failed attempt to destroy Rojava,” they said.
“For years, Turkey has sought to dismantle the Kurdish-led autonomous administration in Rojava by every means possible. From supporting extremist groups to launching invasions, it has consistently aimed to undermine the democratic and inclusive model established in northeast Syria. This aggression is not only a threat to Kurds but to all communities that have found safety and representation under this administration. We call on the international community to take a clear stance and hold Turkey accountable for its violations of international law.”
The KNK also underlined the significance of Kobani’s resistance as a model of unity and determination. “Defending Rojava is defending Kurdistan. Just as we stood together 10 years ago, we must continue to stand together today,” the statement read.
World Kobanê Day started with international solidarity on 1 November 2014, when ISIS beseiged the city, and is now celebrated annually in remembrance of the city’s resistance. The city’s liberation in 2015 was a turning point for the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES).
In closing, the KNK honoured the sacrifices made during the Kobanê resistance, paying tribute to the thousands of fighters who lost their lives. “Their legacy lives on in the spirit of Rojava, in its quest for democracy, equality and justice,” the statement concluded, calling on Kurds and allies worldwide to uphold the gains of the Rojava revolution, the establishment of deomcratic confederalism as envisaged by the Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan.
