Tag Archives: Ismet Hasan

Mutlu Çiviroğlu 11:14 on January 9, 2015
Tags: , Ismet Hasan, , , ,   

Kobane Defense Chief: Liberation of Kobane is Soon

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Mutlu Civiroglu https://twitter.com/mutludc

There have been some heavy fighting in Kobane these past three, four days. What is the latest update from the battlefront? 

Ismet Hasan: the fighting has been ongoing these last four months, and the siege of Kobane is a historical fight. Everybody is counting the combats for only four months, but the truth is that the fight has been an ongoing struggle for one and half year to two years. ISIS brought its fighters from Iraq and Syria to Kobane center. Both the YPG and YPJ with the help of the united states and francs and its coalition has withhold ISIS back, and gain more so Kobane would not fall into ISIS hands. ISIS has the whole world has its enemy who is a terrorist organization, but the only one who are fighting them are the YPG & YPJ. I know believe that we are going to win, and the victory is going to be ours. Because it was only yesterday that with tanks and bombs from Rakka, Manbij and Bab was being brought here that YPG and YPJ fought them, and again they could not enter the city center. Our fighters will fight against ISIS till the last one, we have promised our people, our martyrs and we stand for human rights.

General Ismet

With that answered, do you believe that Kobane will be free of ISIS sooner? 

Ismet Hasan: In the closest future Kobane will gain its freedom again. From the day the war started we said that Kobane will not fall into ISIS hands. Although Kobane center is freed, Kobane stretches for around 35-40 km.

The latest statements indicates that the fighting have been heavy. If Kobane is so close to its victory why is that the fighting is so heavy? 

Ismet Hasan: We go from street to street, from house to house and getting the city. ISIS comes continual with reinforcement teams. Their defeat means that Kobane will not be deleted. In the entire Middle East, Mosul and Rakka within a short time of period major areas and cities are of ISIS control, but the combat in a small city like Kobane will send a signal to ISIS and its members. With all their power they attack.

If I am not wrong the fight is intensified around Asayish (Internal Security) and Mishtenur Hill. How is the situation over there? 

YPG Fighter in Kobane (DIHA)

YPG Fighters in Kobane (DIHA)

Ismet Hasan: Yes, the fighting is at the moment on the eastern front around Asayish and the surrounding area as well as Mishtenur Hill and the water pool. Many ISIS members have been killed, yesterday at the ‘Black School’. They attacked with tanks, this is a war, we still had our wounded and martyrs. I cannot give an exact number yet, but the number does not matter. The important thing is the resistance shown here.

According to the press reports 80 % of Kobane is under Kurdish control. Is that true? 

Ismet Hasan: It is a war, so hard to give a certain percentage as 80 % or 70 % but now many areas are under our control. Botan Neighborhood in the eastern and western sides, Culture and Art Center, Asayish side, Municipality Building which is next to the school and the water pool is under our control.

Now that most of the city is under our control, will it be easier to have the villages under your control as well?

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Ismet Hasan: There is a fact, that ISIS is losing a lot of its members in these fights. So it would be easier to gain the villages. ISIS gave great loses; Kobane had bodies all over the streets. 350 villages will of course see fighting, because ISIS doesn’t leave that easily. We need heavy weapons for the siege of the villages as well as the fight inside Kobane. For two years we were surrounded on all sides, we were in a situation under crucial circumstances that compel people have gathered their personal weapons. ISIS massacring innocent people all over the world, but the world should be against these gangs, who are selling woman, they should join the resistance against ISIS.

YPG and YPJ’s resistance against ISIS in Kobane is a well-known around the world. As the cantonal government, are you satisfied with the support of the international community?

Ismet Hasan: Thanks to all the countries with the coalition, mainly the United States. But just the war against ISIS cannot be completed with air strikes; there is a need of more effectively combat on land. Our primary need for this is heavy weapons. But again we thank all the people who support us, from the individual to the world around us.

ISIS is not only attacking Kobane, but the whole world as you mention. Today a magazine in Paris was a place on an attack were 12 people lost their lives in this brutal massacre. What do you want to say about this attack? 

Ismet Hasan: There is no worse group that ISIS that kills innocent civilians. As the cantonal government and people of Kobane, we condemn this brutal attack and extend our condolences to the people pf France. They may be a threat for us today but they will be a bigger threat for the whole world tomorrow. France, America, Saudi Arabia, Libya that are being targeting from each side. These ISIS thugs did not receive their share of humanity, and they do not accept anything. We are the only ones who are fighting ISIS on the ground; we promise that we will carry out our struggle against them!

You as the local government set up a committee to rebuild Kobane, can you talk about the committee? 

Ismet Hasan: People who are experienced in engineering, doctors, this is a committee that was established by teachers and other professional experts. This committee will determine the damage and to carry out the various damages of Kobane. They want to return to their homeland to our place tomorrow as civilians on all sides, but Kobane is left in ruins. Not a single house is left intact. Kobe needs support for the rebuild. It needs its help from all the international organizations, governments should support Kobane.

General Ismet ve Cocuklar

Finally, I want to ask you a personal question. You shared a photo on the internet. You are standing with your two sons; you are fighting at the front. You never lose your morale and your hope. Could you please introduce yourself to our readers? 

Ismet Hasan: I’m quite excited now that you are asking me that question.  Frankly I find it difficult to talk with excitement. Less whatever he did for the country. We are human; we are fighting for our land and for our honor. Two of my sons fight in the war, and I do not regret it. My older son’s name is Kajin and the other one is named Dilgesh. Karin joined the Kurdish forces three years ago in the cantonal government in Afrin and fought against the Assad regime with the Free Syrian army. After returning home, he joined YPG. Following the recent conflict Dilgesh also signed up for YPG. My daughter joined the YPJ. We have lost everything we had, but so much to gain. This is fight is a fight for our land, our daughters, our freedom and for our honor!

Mutlu Çiviroğlu 07:49 on January 8, 2015
Tags: Ismet Hasan, , , , Kobane Savunma Bakanı İsmet Hasan, , , ,   

İsmet Hasan: Yakın Bir Zamanda Kobanê’yi Özgürlüğüne Kavuşturacağız

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Mutlu Çiviroğlu https://twitter.com/mutludc

Son iki üç gündür Kobanê’de yoğun çatışmaların olduğu aktarılıyor, savaş cephesinde son durum ne?

İsmet Hasan: Çatışmalar yaklaşık dört aydır aralıksız devam ediyor ve Kobanê’de tarihi bir direniş sergileniyor. Herkes sadece dört ayı hesaplıyor fakat aslında bir buçuk, iki yıldır Kobanê’de savaş var. IŞİD, Kobanê’nin merkezini birkaç gün içinde almak için Suriye ve Irak’ta topladığı gücün büyük bir kısmını buraya yığmıştı. Hem YPG ve YPJ güçlerinin direnişi hem Amerika’nın, Fransa’nın ve koalisyondaki diğer birçok ülkenin yardımıyla Kobanê düşmedi. IŞİD bütün dünyayı hedef alan bir terör örgütü ve bu çetelere karşı Ortadoğu’da bir tek YPG ve YPJ savaşıyor. Kazanacağımıza inanıyoruz, zafer bizim olacak. Çünkü daha dün yine Rakka, Minbic ve Bab’dan getirdikleri tanklar ve toplarla saldırdılar ve YPG ve YPJ onlara karşı hafif silahlarla direndiler, yine de Kobanê’nin merkezine geçemediler. Savaşçılarımız bütün IŞİD çeteleri yok edilene kadar savaşmaya söz vermişler. Şehitlerimize söz vermişler ve halkımıza ve insanlığa sahip çıkmak istiyorlar.

Peki, bu cevabınızdan artık Kobanê’yi IŞİD’ten tamamen kurtarmaya daha yakın olduğunuzu söyleyebilir miyiz?

General Ismet

Ismet Hasan

İsmet Hasan: Yakın bir zamanda Kobanê’yi özgürlüğüne kavuşturacağız. Biz daha çatışmaların başında Kobanê’nin düşmeyeceğini, IŞİD çetelerinin ancak cesetlerimize basarak Kobanê’yi alabileceklerini söylemiştik. Fakat Kobanê’nin merkezini tamamen özgürleştirdikten sonra tehlikenin devam edeceğini belirtmemiz lazım. Çünkü çevresinde 35-40 km arası bir mesafeye kadar uzanıyor Kobanê.

 

Gelen son haberler çatışmaların çok şiddetli olduğu yönünde. Eğer Kobanê’de bir zafere yakınsanız nasıl oluyor da çatışmalar bu kadar şiddetli olabiliyor?

İsmet Hasan: Biz sokak sokak, ev ev ilerleyince onlar da daha fazla direnmeye başlıyorlar. IŞİD’e sürekli takviye ekipler geliyor. Onların Kobanê’de yenilmesi bütün Ortadoğu’da yenilmesi demek. Musul, Rakka gibi büyük şehirleri kısa bir sürede alan IŞİD’in küçük bir şehirde bozguna uğratılması IŞİD’in zoruna gidiyor. Buradan çıkmamak için var güçleriyle saldırıyorlar.

Asayiş ve Miştenur Tepesi şu an ne durumda?

İsmet Hasan: Çatışmalar şu an doğu cephesinde, Asayiş, Miştenur Tepesi ve su havuzu çevresinde devam ediyor.

Son çatışmalarda kaç IŞİD üyesi öldürüldü, Kürt güçlerinin kayıpları var mı?

İsmet Hasan: Birçok IŞİD çetesi öldürüldü, dün Mekteba Reş (Kara Okul) taraflarında elimize 7 ceset geçti. Tanklarla saldırmışlardı, bu bir savaş, bizim de yaralılarımız ve şehitlerimiz vardı. Tam bir sayı veremiyorum henüz fakat sayıdan ziyade burada sergilenen direniş önemli.

Hem dünya basınında hem Kürt basınında yer alan haberlere göre Kobanê’nin %80lik bir kısmı IŞİD’ten kurtarılmış durumda. Doğru mu yüzdelik?

İsmet Hasan: Savaş var ve bu sürekli değiştiği için net bir yüzdelik vermek zor açıkçası. Fakat birçok nokta kontrolümüz altına geçti. Botan Mahallesi’nin doğu ve batı tarafları, Kültür ve Sanat Merkezi, Asayiş tarafları, Belediye ve yanındaki okul, Sukul Hal ve su havuzu bizim elimizde.

Peki, şehri tamamen kurtardığınızda köyler daha kolay bir şekilde mi geri alınır?

İsmet Hasan: Kabul etsek de etmesek de onların köylerde direneceği de bir gerçek. Bizim için esas olan zaten kaybettiğimiz yerlerin hepsini geri almak. IŞİD Kobanê’de büyük kayıplar verdi, bütün sokaklarda cesetleri var. 350 köyde de elbet çatışmalar olur, IŞİD kolay kolay bırakmaz. Onları rahat bir şekilde köyden uzaklaştırabilmemiz için ağır silahlara ihtiyacımız var. İki yıldır her taraftan kuşatılmışız, çok mağdur bir durumdayız. Öyle zor şartlar altında kaldık ki mecbur halkın kendi kişisel silahlarını topladık. Bütün dünya masum insanları katleden, kadın satan bu çetelere karşı Kobanê direnişine sahip çıkmalı.

YPG, YPJ ve Kobanê’deki direniş IŞİD’e artık yürütülen savaşta artık bütün dünyanın bildiği birer sembol oldular. Kanton yönetimi olarak, Kobanê’de yaşayanlar olarak kamuoyunun desteğinden memnun musunuz yoksa bu destek yetersiz mi?

İsmet Hasan: Koalisyonun hava saldırılarından memnunuz. Başta Amerika olmak üzere koalisyonda yer alan bütün ülkelere teşekkür ediyoruz. Fakat sadece etkili hava saldırıları ile IŞİD bitirilemez, karada da etkili bir mücadele lazım. Bunun için öncelikli ihtiyacımız ağır silahlar. Çünkü sokak savaşı mücadelesi biraz olan bir savaş türü. Yine dünyanın dört bir yanından bize destek çıkan bütün insanlara da tek tek teşekkür ediyoruz.

Önceki röportajlarımızda da IŞİD’in sadece Kobanê’yi değil bütün dünyayı hedef aldığını, terörün dünyanın her tarafında aynı olduğunu belirtmiştiniz. Bugün Paris’te Charlie Hebdo dergisine bir saldırı gerçekleşti ve saldırıda 12 kişi yaşamını yitirdi. Uluslararası toplum saldırıyı sertçe kınıyor. Şu an gündemde bu saldırı var, bu saldırı hakkında neler diyeceksiniz?

İsmet Hasan: IŞİD dışında sivil insanları kesen, öldüren başka bir örgüt yok. Örgüt demek bile ağır geliyor, bu çeteler bu saldırıların suçlusu. Biz de kanton yönetimi ve Kobanê halkı olarak bu vahşi saldırıyı kınıyor Fransız halkına bağ sağlığı diliyoruz.

Bu vesileyle tekrar vurgulamak istiyorum ki IŞİD ve benzeri grupları yok etmek için bir kuvvet oluşturulmalı. Bunu da belirtmek istiyorum açıkçası, kuzeyimizdeki komşumuz da onlara çok destek verdiler. Bizim için bizim üzerimizde olan tehlike yarın onların, öbür gün bütün dünyanın üzerinde olur. Fransa, Amerika, Suudi Arabistan, ta Libya’ya kadar her tarafı hedef alıyorlar. İnsanlıktan nasibini almamış bu insanlar hiçbir şeyi kabul etmiyorlar. Herkes insanlık için bir şeyler yapmalı artık. Biz bütün dünya için dünyada bir tek IŞİD üyesi kalana kadar onlara karşı mücadele yürüteceğimize söz veriyoruz.

Kobanê’nin yeniden inşası kanton yönetimi olarak bir komite kurmuşsunuz, biraz da bu komiteden bahsedebilir misiniz?

İsmet Hasan: Alanında tecrübeli mühendislerin, doktorların, öğretmenlerin ve diğer meslek erbaplarının kurmuş olduğu bir komite bu. Bu komite Kobanê’deki hasarı tespit edecek ve çeşitli çalışmalar yürütecek. Yarın öbür gün sivil insanlarımız yerlerine yurtlarına dönmek isteyecekler fakat her taraf harap olmuş durumda, sağlam kalmış bir tek ev yok. Bunun için de Kobanê’nin desteğe ihtiyacı var, bütün uluslararası kuruluşlar, devletler Kobanê’ye destek çıkmalılar.

Son olarak da sizinle ilgili özel bir soru sormak istiyorum. Sosyal medyada bazı fotoğraflarınız paylaşılıyor. Siz ve iki oğlunuz cephede savaşıyorsunuz sanırım. Sizi merak eden okurlarımız için kendinizi tanıtır mısınız biraz?

General Ismet ve Cocuklar

İsmet Hasan: Bu soruyu sorduğunuz için daha heyecanlıyım şimdi ve heyecandan konuşmakta güçlük çekiyorum açıkçası. İnsanın ülkesi için ne yaparsa yapsın azdır. Biz insanlık için, toprağımız ve namusumuz için savaşıyoruz. Kırk oğlumu da bu onur savaşında kaybetsem pişmanlık duymam. Büyük oğlumun adı Kajîn, diğerinin adı da Dilgeş. Kajîn ilk kez 3 yıl önce Afrin’de rejime karşı savaşa katıldı. Özgür Suriye Ordusu ve Fırat Volkanı savaşçıları ile birlikte rejime karşı savaşırken orada yaralandı. Eve döndükten sonra YPG’ye katıldı. Son çatışmalardan sonra Dilgeş de katıldı. Yaşı küçük olduğu için bazen bu konuda eleştiriliyoruz da. Fakat size saldırdıklarında yediden yetmişe herkes elinden geldiğini yapmalı. Yine bir kızım da gelip bize katılmış durumda. Benim kendi işim vardı, buğday, arpa alım, satımı ile uğraşıyordum. Fakat savaş çıkınca her şeyi bıraktım. Herkes ülkesine ve davasına sahip çıkmalı. Bundan onur duyuyoruz ve asla pişmanlık duymayacağız.

Mutlu Çiviroğlu 11:37 on November 8, 2014
Tags: Abdul Jabbar Akidi, Abdul Jabbar al-Okaidi, Abduljabbar Akidi, Col Abdul Jabbar al-Okaidi, , , , Ismet Hasan, , Kobane Defense Chief, , , , , , Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), , , People’s Protection Units (YPG), , Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), ,   

Kobane Defense Chief Hasan: We Want Turkey to Change Its Faulty Attitude Towards Us

Defense Minister of Kobane Canton Ismet Hasan (3rd on the right) with peshmerga commanders and YPG fighters

Mutlu Civiroglu https://twitter.com/mutludc

Interview conducted on November 6, 2014

***

Mr. Hasan, we are informed that the clashes continue at the eastern front, shelling and mortar attacks at the western front. Can you update us about the recent situation?

As you also now, it has been 54 days that Kobane has demonstrated a historical resistance. ISIS is bombing our citizens waiting at the border in the western front and also at the Tilsahr Hill. The clashes have not stopped since the first day at the eastern front. They try to recruit forces from surrounding cities and continue attacking us. As long as Kobane is surrounded by attacks from all three fronts, it is always going to be dangerous for Kobane. Since the winter came, people at the front lines are having many difficulties.

You stated that ISIS attacks with bombs. The coalition was assuming that it destroyed most of the heavy weaponry of ISIS, is that not true? Do they continue to attack you and civilians comfortably because they still have a big amount of weaponry?

They have mortars such as the M57s, they have a tank in industrial zone and they are using it heavily. When airstrike starts, they hide those and when it stops, they take them out again and attack.

Ismet_Hasan

You mentioned about cold weather, what are the needs of people between Suruc and Kobane, and at the border, what can be done for those?

These civilians are under terrible conditions. There is no house or tent that they can stay in. They sleep outside. There are many women and children. We try to at least provide them with basic needs such as food, but it has become a huge challenge for us as the weather is getting colder. This is a very serious problem that needs urgent attention. Also, there are some civilians still in the city and they cannot go out because of continuous attacks and shelling.

Firstly, we want a safe corridor for these civilians. Secondly, today a group of young men and women wanted to come to Kobane to support us from the other side of the border. However, because of the attacks by Turkish soldiers, a young woman lost her life and a few got injured. We are going through a very though time. People who had crossed the border to Turkey are being shot when they want to come back to support their city. We want them to allow our people to cross the borders.

How do you interpret the attitude of Turkey in this regard?

Turkey has a faulty attitude towards us and we want it to change. We are not fighting against Turkey; we are fighting against the terrorist group ISIS that does not only target Kurds, but the whole world. If they attack us here today, they are going to attack Turkey tomorrow. They have organized crimes in many cities and killed many civilians. For instance, in Iraq, they killed about 400 people from a tribe. Turkey needs to reanalyze its politics and alter them. We are neighbor with Turkey and as Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and as Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ); we are fighting against a terrorist group, ISIS. Even if Turkey does not provide any support, it should stop to interfere and attack our people so we can carry out a more efficient resistance.

The world media is watching you closely and writing very positively about you. There were protests in all over the world a few days ago. What do you want to say about this?

This is very important for us. We want to thank all those who support us. We will never forget the airstrike support of America and international coalition. Turkey is out neighbor and they should have reacted accordingly, but what can we say. The support from people of different countries in the same date has increased our morale. Today, when YPG and YPJ fight against terrorism, they do not do this only to support Kobane or Kurdish people, but for the people of the world.

We are talking about a terrorist organization that has carried attacks in many European countries including Spain and France, and we still remember September 11 attack. They have one hand in Baghdad and one in Lebanon, one other in Raqqa and nobody dared to resist against this group, but us. ISIS took control of Mosul, which has a population of 4 million, within a few hours, the same is true for Raqqa and Manbij, however, even though they surrounded Kobane, they were not able to win and therefore, they are fighting us wholeheartedly. For this reason, we need the support of international community and we send our greetings to those who already did so.

You said that ISIS attacks with all its strength; can you say that new forces arrive in the last days?

According to information provided to us, additional forces are joining them from Talabyad, Raqqa, Manbij and Jarablus. As we understand from the radio, a lot of their members are coming from Afghanistan.

Some media sources claimed that YPG retook some villages from them. However, YPG sources disputed this, what is the issue here?

No, there is not any village that we retook now. Yesterday, 9 ISIS members were killed in the conflict that emerged in Ebruşk village.  We just got Tilsahr back, but nowhere else. However, our forces go to the villages and attack ISIS. For instance, they attacked ISIS in Karamox, which is about 20 km from here, but they withdrew. It is true that we advanced a little bit in the city, but there is not any village that we saved yet.

What is the role of peshmergas, what are you going to tell about them?

It is a very positive thing. 150 people may not be a big as a support materially, but they are a big support morally.  It is an honor for us that peshmergas came from the southern Kurdistan to here for us. Kurds are being slaughtered every few years. We want Kobane to be the last one. A national army should be established and Kurds need to defend themselves.

Are peshmergas fighting only at the western front or at all fronts?

Not only at the western front, but anywhere we need them most to work with heavy weaponry. They work with 57’s, mortars, Katyushas, whichever is needed in whichever front.

I want to ask about Abdul Jabbar Akidi’s group. Are they also fighting actively and supporting YPG? It is speculated that some left the group. Is that true?

Previously, some groups named “Euphrates Volcano” from Free Syrian Army (FSA) were with us. It has been 8-10 months we have been fighting together and they lost a lot of martyrs. Lastly, a group of 50 from Akidi came to Kobane, but we did not really want them. Instead, since ISIS are in many other areas in Jarablus, Azaz and many other Syrian cities, we wanted them to collaborate with Kurds from Afrin or other areas and do something in those areas. However, they refused it saying that they do not have the power to do so, but instead wanted to come to Kobane to fight. We want an egalitarian, democratic Syria where everybody has a say and for this reason we accepted them. While they throw mortars, they are not actively fighting yet. I do not know, but 9-10 of them went back. But as I said we have our doors open to everyone, who wants to support this mission.

You see YPG and YPJ fighters and peshmergas while you go through the war fronts. How is their morale in general?

YPG, YPJ, and peshmerge forces are fighting together. This is a very crucial thing for us morally and our morale is very high because of this. We are hopeful that we will achieve significant results in a short time.

We want to thank again to the United States, Europe and the coalition for their support. As long as they support us in our struggle, our resistance will prevail. They need to know that Kurdish people are brave. We will continue resisting and they should keep in mind that their support is very crucial for us and for our resistance against ISIS.

***

For my participation to a show, interview me or get a quote on Kobane and other Kurdish related issues, please contact me at mciviroglu@gmail.com

You can follow me on Twitter for latest updates from Kobani  https://twitter.com/mutludc

***

Thanks for Demet Arpacik for translating this interview from Kurdish into English

Mutlu Çiviroğlu 07:18 on November 5, 2014
Tags: , Ismet Hasan, , ,   

52. Günde Kobanê’deki Duruma Kısa Bir Bakış

Kobabe_Old_MAn

Kobanê direnişi 52. güne girerken yoğun çatışmalar doğu ve batı cephelerinde devam ediyor. Peşmerge ve YPG güçleri doğuda belli bir ilerleme kaydetmiş durumda. Yine, batıda Minaz, Ebruş ve Elbelur bölgelerine Kürt güçlerinin etkili saldırıları var fakat siyasi ve askeri kaynaklar, köylerin IŞİD’den geri alındığına dair çıkan haberleri yalanlıyor.

Ağır silahların Kobanê’ye ulaşmasıyla birlikte, aralarında Kîkan ve Şêran’ın da bulunduğu en az 6 köydeki IŞİD arka destek gücü Kürt güçleri tarafından bombalandı.

Son zamanlarda art arda serbest bırakılan Kürt sivillerin IŞİD’in yeni propagandası olduğu ileri sürülüyor. Libyalı bir emirlerinin direktifleri doğrultusunda sivilleri serbest bırakan IŞİD, kimi yorumlara göre sivilleri katletmediği mesajını vermeye çalışıyor. 5 gün önce 25 Kürt öğrenciyi serbest bırakan IŞİD, dün de 93 Kürt sivili bırakmıştı. Yerel kaynaklar IŞİD’in elinde hala 200’e yakın Kürt sivilin olduğunu aktarıyor.

Yine kendisiyle yaptığım görüşmede dört köyün geri alındığı yönündeki haberleri yalanlayan Kobanê Savunma Bakanı İsmet Hasan, bu köylere sadece çok etkili saldırılar düzenlediklerini, çok sayıda IŞİD militanının öldürüldüğünü belirtti.

Ismet_Hasan

 

Üç cephede de saldırı pozisyonunda olduklarını belirten İsmet Hasan, yeni gelen ağır silahlar, peşmerge güçleri ve silah konusunda ise şöyle konuştu:

‘’Ağır silahların ve peşmerge kardeşlerimizin büyük faydası var elbette. Fakat bu daha başlangıç, çünkü peşmerge misafirlerimiz henüz buranın coğrafyasını bilmiyorlar, bunun için resmi olarak henüz resmi bir harekât başlatmamışız. Yakın zamanda çok etkili saldırılara başlayacağız. Bunu da belirtmek istiyorum, buradaki birlikteliğimiz bir ulusal ordu kurma fikrini iyice pekiştirdi. İlerleyen zamanlarda bu konu üzerinde duracağız. Hava saldırılarına değinecek olursak, bu hava saldırıları çok etkili fakat IŞİD’e gelen desteği kesmek için daha fazla olmalı. Çünkü IŞİD’e hala takviye ekipler geliyor ve en ağır silahlarını kullanıyorlar’’

Mutlu Çiviroğlu 22:22 on October 10, 2014
Tags: airstrikes, , , Ismat Hasan, Ismet Hasan, , , , , , , , ,   

Defense Chief Of Kobane Asks for Weapons from US

In a phone conversation at 9pm local time, Kobane Defense Minister Ismet Hasan says YPG forces are in control 70% of the city.

Ismet_Hasan

Hasan said YPG forces inflicted heavy loses to ISIS but they are receiving reinforcements from Aleppo, Raqqa and other surrounding towns.

Hasan reiterated that they have been resisting the ISIS with light weapons for 26 days, and they urgently needed heavy weapons.

“If the U.S. can provide us weapons that are capable of eliminating their heavy weapons, like tanks and artillery, and continue air strikes against the ISIS, we are confident we will be able to kick them out of Kobane”.

Hasan added that people of Kobane and the YPG fighters are determined to fight until the end.

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Mutlu Çiviroğlu 00:36 on October 8, 2014
Tags: , , , , , , , Ismet Hasan, , Kobane Analsyst, , , , NBC Kobani, , ,   

Coalition Airstrikes in Kobane Helping Kurds

Kobaneeee

In an over-the-phone interview, Defense Minister of Kobane Canton Ismet Hasan says the coalition airstrikes on Tuesday were pretty effective and caused some damage on ISIS.

“ISIS is a threat not only for Kobane and the Kurds, but also for a treat against all humanity. Coalition airstrikes and our fight on the ground is a strong cooperation against ISIS threat, and we are optimistic that it will bring positive outcomes.”

Hasan says although they don’t know the exact damage of the airstrikes, they could determine that 1 tank, 6 vehicles with machine guns, 5 dushka, 1 armored personnel carrier (APC) were destroyed, tens of ISIS members were killed.

Premier of Kobane Canton Anwar Moslem also praised the coalition airstrikes that continued multiple times on Tuesday. “Today’s strikes were really helpful. We are hoping that the coalition will continue striking ISIS like this.”

Moslem pointed out that the coalition should continue hitting ISIS targets in the same way they did on Tuesday. “If the coalition strikes ISIS terrorists effectively, we can handle the situation on the ground,” he added.

Moslem also thanked the people around the world that for their solidarity with the people of Kobane.

“I would like to thank Kurds in North [Turkey] and diaspora, as well as people around the world who have been with us in these difficult days. Their solidarity and support messages have been great source of strength and optimism for the people of Kobane and YPG and YPJ fighters on the front.”

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Mutlu Çiviroğlu 10:16 on October 6, 2014
Tags: Arin Mirkan, Besieged Kobani, , , , Ismet Hasan, , , , , , self-sacrificing, , , ,   

Update From Kobani (October 6, 2014)

Kobaneeee

According to sources inside Kobani, as if October 6 7:30am UTC the city is still under the YPG control. City center was shelled all day on Sunday by the tanks stationed on south of the hill which is under ISIS control.

Civilians death and injuries were reported although the exact numbers are not known.

Contrary to what is widely reported, there are still many civilians in the city. Ayse Efendi, Cochair of Kobane Council and the wife of PYD leader Salih Muslim estimates there are 10-15 thousand civilians still in the city.

Kobane Defense Minister Ismet S. Hasan says heavy fighting especially continued near Mistanour Hill.

Ismet_Hasan

“ISIS wanted to attack the city with a vehicle full of explosives but YPG forces detected and destroyed the vehicle.”

Hasan also informs that a commander of Women’s Protection Units (YPJ *) Arin Mirkan detonated herself in a self-sacrificing mission to among a group of ISIS fighters.

Meanwhile coalition forces also conducted airstrikes around 02:30 local time against ISIS targets on Mistanour Hill and Termik Village.

Since access to areas targeted by coalition jets is either none or quite limited, real effectiveness of the attacks are unknown.

However, Hasan stated his content about coalition airstrikes calling them important.

“US airstrikes are important and we value them. We hope there will be more frequent strikes against ISIS targets who continuously shell the city. Airstrikes can be more effective if they are day time because ISIS predicts the strikes and act accordingly.”

* YPJ is the the women only military force of the YPG. Some experts estimate about 35% of the YPG fighters are women.

**This report is written from the information obtained from Hasan and several other sources inside of Kobani.

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