Rojava’s Cizire Canton declares general mobilization despite ceasefire with Damascus

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Despite a ceasefire agreement between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), authorities in northern Syria’s Cizire Canton, which includes Hasaka province, have declared a general mobilization, calling on the public to take up arms to repel any potential attacks by armed factions affiliated with Syria’s transitional government.

The move follows military operations launched by the Syrian Arab Army and allied factions in eastern areas of Syria administered by Kurdish-led authorities.

On Monday, the armed factions took over strategic Tishreen Dam in northern Syria after the SDF forces pulled back.

In an effort to end the confrontation, Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced that he and SDF commander Mazloum Abdi had signed an agreement to halt the clashes and integrate the SDF and the territories under its control into the Syrian army and state institutions. The two sides had previously signed a similar agreement in March last year, though it has yet to be fully implemented.

Abdi said on Sunday that the SDF remains committed to protecting the “achievements” of the Kurdish region in northeast Syria.

The declaration of general mobilization was announced in Qamishli by Hasan Shro and Fivyan Baho, the co-chairs of Cizire Canton, in statements delivered in Kurdish and Arabic.

“Taking up arms is a public duty. It is a national and moral responsibility to protect our people and safeguard the achievements of our revolution, as well as to strengthen the spirit of resistance,” the co-chairs said.

The announcement coincided with the 13th anniversary of the establishment of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES).

Cizire is the largest of the three cantons that make up the de facto autonomous Kurdish region of Rojava in northern Syria. As part of the Rojava movement, its democratic autonomy was officially declared on January 21, 2014.

“We support a political solution, but true peace cannot be achieved without self-defense,” the statement said. “If war is imposed on us, or if the existence and rights of our people are targeted, we are fully prepared for legitimate defense.”

“Our strength lies in the unity of our communities - Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, and Assyrians. The blood of our martyrs is mixed in this land,” the co-chairs added.

The autonomous administration said the general mobilization would remain in effect until “the security situation in the region stabilizes.”