(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL - International, "The Islamic State has already lost the battle Koban?" (fr, pt)

[machine translation]

In a given 17 October the Turkish-Kurdish newspaper interview ?zg?r G?ndem , and 
reproduced by the English website Rojava postponement , Mehmud Berxwedan, the general 
command of YPG, explains why the Islamic State (Daech), according to him, "already lost " 
the battle of Koban?. ---- Mehmud Berxwedan is an officer of the People's Protection Units 
(YPG) , close to the PKK, defending Koban? face Daech. ---- In the context of a given 
sympathizer newspaper interview, he is certainly not sound pessimistic, so you have to be 
careful about some of its triumphalist declarations. Nevertheless, a number of analyzes 
are interesting, and reinforce the idea that all is not lost Koban?. ---- His statements 
also reflect the necessary pragmatism of fighting back against the wall, ready to accept 
any help from anywhere, including Arab-Western imperialist powers.

Most of his statements, six points.

Why so much hate? Daech has tried to seize Koban? in July 2014 The battle lasted a month 
and ended with the defeat of the jihadists. For Mehmud Berxwedan with this second attempt, 
Daech pursues objectives other than purely geostrategic. Certainly the city is landlocked, 
which facilitated the attack, but it is not just why she was targeted: "The revolution of 
July 19 [2012] in the Rojava began to Koban?, which has become a symbol of resistance and 
freedom. [...] For this reason, Koban? hampers plans of some regional and international 
powers, who fear that the Kurds express their own will. " A clear allusion to Turkey. 
"They thought they could break the will of Koban? and seize it fast enough. But they have 
not reached their goal. Eventually they realized that despite the concentration of forces 
here, they fail to do so. [...] We believe that Daech raised by nearly 70% of its fighters. "


"We decided to deliver the real battle in the city. We wanted the turn is played there. "
The tactics of the YPG-YPJ. Mehmud Berxwedan explains that this second battle of Koban? 
actually experienced several phases. Initially, Daech has seized dozens of villages around 
the city, attacking "4 or 5 fronts simultaneously," according to a customary home 
technology, with tanks, artillery, mortars and heavy weapons. "Of course they thought 
things would be like in Mosul [in Iraq] and in other regions they occupy, and Koban? fall 
within days. In fact, they had forecast a week. That's pretty much what were predicting as 
Turkey and other powers."

In reality, it took them three weeks to reach the outskirts of the city. The YPG-YPJ 
defended villages, time to evacuate the civilian population, but have maintained their 
strength gradually falling back in good order. "Jihadist thought destroying the bulk of 
our forces in the villages before entering Winners in the city, brandishing their weapons, 
said Mehmud Berxwedan. We decided to deliver the real battle in the city. We wanted the 
turn is played there."

The return of hope. During these three weeks, Turkish President Erdogan, many states and 
the world thought that the fall of Koban? was imminent. "While everyone was based on this 
assumption, we break Daech. A month has passed. We are entering the second month. It was a 
historical resistance. [...] It's been three days since they have not taken a step. For 
three days, we did not back down, and we even regain ground. Daech's over. They are tired. 
Forces abandon. [...] During the first month we resisted. In the second month, we will 
destroy Daech to Koban?. We only ambition is more resistance, but victory. "

The morale of jihadists. According Mehmud Berxwedan, Daech has already exhausted his best 
troops, and called on his reserves, less educated and less value on the ground. "We saw a 
lot of kids they gave a weapon. Recently they enlisted women in what they call women's 
units (Ketibe Unsa-i). Now they are calling in reinforcements increasingly distant. 
Despite all this, the last three days, we broke their morale. [...] Neither their trucks 
suicide bombers or their other weapons have been of no use. And for good reason: this city 
is our city. We know every street, every avenue. We know where they're coming and where to 
strike. [...] yesterday, we took 5 or 6 quarters. And on the western front, we've pushed 
out of Koban?."

The wait for Turkey. recently rockets fired by Daech fell on Turkish territory. Mehmud 
Berxwedan think it is a pure accident: "Daech not deliberately hit his partner." Turkey's 
non-reaction is itself very telling: "If it's us who had fired, not even a bullet towards 
Turkey, which would have been hell!"

Arab-American bombing. coalition led by Washington thought that the city would fall in a 
week. After 15 or 20 days, the length of the resistance taking away any excuse for not 
acting, she finally decided to bomb the attackers Koban?. At first, she did it blind, not 
deigning to contact the YPG-YPJ. Now, says Mehmud Berxwedan, communication was established 
and, "for 10 days," aviation coalition "plays an important role, in coordination with the 
YPG. They work very effectively. So far, there has been no error or mistake". Playing on 
the contradictions between Turkey and the United States, YPG commander now claims that the 
coalition to go further, and their book Straight weapons: "If the coalition against Daech 
wants to conquer, it must supply weapons to those who fight on the ground. And forces 
fighting on the ground, it is the YPG-YPJ. [...] The fighters who want to join us should 
be allowed to. But Turkey does not allow it. [...] We must put pressure on Turkey to open 
a corridor. "

Transcript and commentary: Guillaume Davranche (AL Montreuil)