Zilan Jasour, a member of the leadership of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), stated:“We are committed to protecting the people and the land from any threats, and we firmly defend the rights of women and civilians.”
Speaking about the presence of the forces in Deir ez-Zor, she explained:“Our presence in this region is a direct response to the attacks taking place in Deir ez-Zor, carried out by sleeper cells affiliated with ISIS. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are fully deployed here, and so are we, the Women’s Protection Units. We carry a heavy responsibility in this region, as it still suffers from a dominant patriarchal and chaotic mindset—one that ISIS seeks to exploit in order to revive its organization in Deir ez-Zor.”
Zilan Jasour continued:“As members of the YPJ, we bravely defend the people of Deir ez-Zor and work to protect civilians from acts of terrorism. Our presence here is dedicated to defending both women and the local population. In recent months, Deir ez-Zor has witnessed numerous bombings and acts of sabotage aimed at destabilizing society and spreading fear. We are fully aware that those behind these acts are not the people of Deir ez-Zor, as the locals have united with the SDF and now work hand in hand to safeguard their region.”
She added:“Those attempting to destroy the region are remnants of ISIS sleeper cells that have begun to reorganize and launch attacks against the SDF and the YPJ. Our presence here is primarily a response to these threats and to ISIS’s attempts to rebuild itself in the area. We are determined to cut off these roots and eliminate them completely.”
She concluded:“The operations and campaigns we carry out fall within this framework, and the people of Deir ez-Zor welcome our efforts because they know our goal is to eradicate extremist ideology and prevent ISIS from returning. We continue to train, strengthen our readiness, and organize ourselves as comrades in every campaign to ensure the protection of our region, defend women and the people, and eliminate extremist thought from its roots.”
Media Center of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ)
22.10.2025
