The People’s Defence Units (YPG) announced the death of one of their commanders, Aslan Qamişlo, who was murdered on 17 September in a targeted drone attack by the Turkish state in North-East Syria.

On the day of the YPG commander’s martyrdom, Turkey carried out two drone strikes at once. The first attack targeted a vehicle on the road between Qamişlo and Amûdê, in which the YPG commander was travelling together with a fighter from the local security force, Asayish. When people rushed to help them, the scene was attacked again, leaving eight civilians injured, some seriously.

Aslan Qamişlo was born in 1974 in a village in the Çukurca district of Hakkari. As an adolescent, he joined the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). After long years in the resistance in the mountains, including the regions of Botan, Zagros, Behdinan and Qandil, he went to Rojava in 2013 to participate in the defence of the revolution. He participated in numerous offensives against ISIS and other jihadist militias and was involved at commando level in the liberation of Kobanê, Raqqa, Tabqa, Manbij and Deir ez-Zor. He also played a decisive role in the establishment and expansion of the Asayish.

The YPG paid tribute to Aslan Qamişlo, defining him as a courageous revolutionary, freedom fighter and pioneer of his people. “Even under the most difficult conditions, our commander did not pause for a moment and continued his struggle with the enthusiasm of the revolution he carried in his heart. With great will to succeed and determination, he walked his revolutionary march, took part in the training of thousands of fighters, left his mark on all the people he met. Comrade Aslan was one of those companions who made the greatest efforts for the development of our revolution with the depth of the Apoist personality. He inscribed his name with golden letters in the history of the revolution.”

The identity information of the fallen commander is as follows:

Nom de Guerre: Aslan Qamişlo

First-Last Name: Mûzellîf Taşkin

Mother’s Name: Hîzîm

Father’s Name: İsmail

Date and Place of Martyrdom: Qamishlo, 17 September 2023