The operation launched to liberate Raqqa is on day 24. As the fighters inch closer to Raqqa, their morale improves accordingly. The excitement and joy of Raqqan fighters and fighters with family in Raqqa is a sight for sore eyes.

One of them is Arab fighter Fırat Derîk, who we met in the Eastern front in Raqqa. Fırat Derîk has been a YPG fighter for one year, and has participated in almost all phases of the campaign. He has been dreaming of Raqqa’s liberation for a long time, and now he is ever more enthusiastic as the day his people and his family will be free draws close.

“IT WAS ALL DIFFERENT BEFORE ISIS”

Fırat Derîk sighs after every sentence as he talks about life before ISIS. Derîk talks of the life in Raqqa before ISIS as: “Our city is in two parts, New Raqqa and Old Raqqa. I’m from New Raqqa. When ISIS attacked, me and my family were there. Before ISIS we had a good life. I was living with my family, in my homeland, the lands I was born in. People talked to each other and they shared. Nobody would question or attack another’s way of life. Of course there were hardships, but we overcame them with our own means. Women had it easier than now. Everybody helped each other.”

“ISIS MADE OUR LIFE HELL”

Fırat Derîk says life ended in Raqqa with ISIS, and adds: “They made our life hell. We saw hell on earth. They used to kill people on the streets. They even beheaded old people, right in the middle of the street. Women had no rights at all. They couldn’t leave the house, and even if they could with a ‘male guardian’ they had to don the black chadors. Everything was haram and banned in their eyes. They used to torture people for the smallest things, they even beheaded people for small things.”

“I WOULD HAVE DIED IF I HADN'T FLED RAQQA”

Fırat Derîk stayed in Raqqa for 4 months after ISIS invaded, then he fled to Derîk. He says he had to leave his family and run, because “if I hadn't fled, they would have killed me. They would have beheaded me. Because we didn’t join them. They didn’t leave us be. And I decided to flee. It was very hard for me to leave my family with those savages, but me staying there would do no good to my family at all. I fled and came to Derîk. But I never forgot what ISIS did in Raqqa.”

“YPG WAS THE ONLY HOPE FOR THE FREEDOM OF OUR PEOPLE”

Derîk stayed in Derîk for a while, and says he had the opportunity to get to know YPG and the YPG fighters there. He has been a YPG fighter for one year now. He says the following on his decision to join: “I can say that I came back to life in Derîk. It was heavy on my heart that I left my family and my people in Raqqa at the hands of those murderers. But in Derîk I got to know YPG and the YPG fighters. I saw their morale and the level of their struggle. They fought ISIS, but were not afraid. ISIS enslaves people through fear and tyranny. But the YPG had killed the fear. I joined the YPG one year ago, and I chose the name Fırat Derîk because in Derîk I found the hope to live again and the hope that my people will one day be free.

“I WILL CELEBRATE RAQQA’S FREEDOM WITH MY PEOPLE AND MY FAMILY”

Derîk says being a fighter in the operation to liberate Raqqa means so much for him and continues: “I participate in the fight to liberate my city, my people and my family. This was my dream. We have Raqqa completely surrounded, and we are liberating it step by step. There is only 6 km left for the complete liberation of Raqqa. Soon, the whole city will be free. If I don’t fall, I will celebrate that day with my people and my family.”

“WE WILL FIGHT UNTIL ISIS IS ERADICATED FROM SYRIA COMPLETELY”

Fırat Derîk says being a YPG fighter is a sacred duty for him and that he will continue with this duty even after Raqqa. Derîk says: “I will continue with my sacred duty for as long as I live. My dream used to be to liberate my family and Raqqa. But now I live for the dream of seeing all the peoples of Syria free. My dreams and aspirations grew in the YPG. We as the SDF, the YPG and YPJ fighters will continue to fight until we eradicate ISIS and all the barbarism that makes life hell for our people.”