Reports | 25 05 2020
The city of Kobanî "Ayn Arab" located on the Syrian-Turkish border, has been able to achieve what most other Syrian cities, for over three and a half years, not been able to do. Numerous journalists, working with several agencies and media outlets, convened merely one kilometer away to monitor what is happening inside and around the city, and its skies.
While these journalists were not able to follow the course of the battles carried out by ISIS on the ground in Syria and Iraq; they were, on the other hand, able to follow the clashes in the town of Kobanî "Ayn Arab" from the adjacent the Turkish-Syrian border.
A journalist from the BBC team tells Rozana: "Kobanî is one of the areas attacked by ISIS, an we can observe them from here. They also attacked several areas in the Middle East, in Iraq and other areas in Syria."
He adds: "We should, in fact, get closer to witness the battles. Anbar has recently fallen, and so has Fallujah in the beginning of this year; yet no none of the journalists could get close to those areas, or send reports or stories. Working up close is necessary, because it gives explanations about ISIS movements on the grounds."
The importance of Kobanî "Ayn Arab"
Are the geographical location and minoritartian nature of Kobanî "Ayn Arab" the real reasons behind all of this momentum in the media coverage of events there? Or are there are other aspects linked to the involvement of major powers in the Syrian issue?
American journalist Jimmy Dittmer speaks about this, stating that watching the situation closely in Kobanî is exciting for several reasons. One reason is to attempt to provide answers to the international community's questions about happenings on the ground.
He continues: "It is unbelieveable that only several hundred Kurds with dozens of Free Army fighters, are facing a much larger force in terms of arms, equipped with the most modern tanks, seized from the Iraqi army last summer."
As for Washington's policy toward ISIS, the journalist believes that the American military intervention against the organization came late and is facing huge criticism, as being remiss in what they are doing. He adds: "Some people believe that Obama's policy is limited, and that all he wants is to appear a hero in this situation."
The Damages of War
The situation in the country reflects on Syrians of all sects, yet only the civilians from all sides are paying the price. One can observe Kurds spread along the border, desperately watching their town burn, while some of them watch what is going on, filled with defiance and hope.
Many of Kobanî "Ayn Arab" inhabitants were forced to work with the media and relief groups. Some work to secure their material needs, while others simply wish to convey what is happening in their town to the world.
Kurdish activist Shamsa Shaheen says: "I am currently here with a British group who wish to witness the situation in Kobanî. I also come here to watch what is happening in my town."
Naima the young activist is working with journalists, trying to convey to them the idea that the Kurds are oppressed. She adds: "Everyone has opressed us... Turks, Arabs. I try to convey the general idea of the Kurds continously trying to rise."
Amidst this situation and the raging war, many foreign and Arab journalists continue to perform their work in Kobanî "Ayn Arab," some out of their journalistic duty to cover and transmit events; others out of a sense of humane duty, to the deliver the true voices here to the international community.