SYRIA: Commander of Beth Nahrin Women’s Protection Forces Zenobia Athro congratulates Women’s Protection Units on 8th anniversary of founding

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — Leader of the Beth Nahrin Women’s Protection Force (Ḥaylawotho d’Sutoro d’Neshe d’Beth Nahrin, HSNB) Zenobia Athro congratulated the Women’s Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Jin, YPJ) on the ‎8th anniversary of its founding, noting that women from all the components of North and East Syria now make up the force.

She added that the YPJ did not differentiate between any component including Syriacs, Kurds, and Arabs. However, the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Turkish occupation army wanted to destroy the group and undermine the progress it has made.

She also pointed out that the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) women played their role within the units, especially in 2015. When ISIS entered the Syriac–Assyrian villages, kidnapped women and children and displaced their people, the YPJ fought back and defeated them.

Athro stressed that the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people joined the military forces to prevent the recurrence of the previous massacres against them and the Armenian people.

She also affirmed that targeting women and committing crimes against them is not new, as various types of transgressions have been practiced against them throughout history. However, today, through the participation of women in legitimate self-defense, a message has been conveyed that women are present and can defend themselves and one another.

Athro called on all women to join the HSNB and YPJ to stand against all potential threats.