Guerrilla Bîrhat Cîlo died in March during tunnel resistance in the Zap region.  The Press Center of the People's Defense Forces (HPG) said in a statement: “With his clear stance and apoist militancy, his skills in combat and his selfless participation in life, Heval Bîrhat was an exemplary comrade.

His fight was one of the best examples of self-sacrificing resistance to enemy attacks. He fought continuously for two years in the Zap, which was attacked by the enemy using every means possible. Our comrade Bîrhat had limited means at his disposal, but his heart was filled with an unshakable apoistic will. With his fight, he proved that you can only win if you fight unreservedly and resolutely.”

The HPG expressed their condolences to the family of Bîrhat Cîlo and the patriotic people of Aleppo and Kurdistan. The HPG provides the following information regarding the identity of the martyr:

 Codename: Bîrhat Cîlo

 First and last name: Ismail Ali

 Place of birth: Aleppo

 Names of mother and father: Fatma – Hisên

 Date and place of death: March 2023 / Zap

Bîrhat Cîlo was born in the Shexmeqsûd district of Aleppo. His family came into contact with the Kurdish freedom movement when Abdullah Öcalan and other PKK leadership cadres left Turkish territory in the late 1970s and continued their work in Syria and Lebanon.

At that time, people were afraid to admit their Kurdish identity. However, Bîrhat's family took great risks and took part in the revolutionary work. In the 1990s, several people from the family joined the fight for freedom, some of whom died in the process. Family members also participated in the Rojava Revolution with great enthusiasm.

Bîrhat Cîlo grew up in a similar atmosphere and was active in the youth movement in Aleppo for a long time as an adolescent. Şêxmeqsûd is one of two Kurdish districts that are administered autonomously. When Islamist gangs attacked Aleppo in 2014, Bîrhat took part in the armed resistance. Through close contact with Apoist militants, he became increasingly aware. He was injured in the hand in the fight. After his recovery, he went back into resistance.

He educated himself militarily and ideologically and was respected in his environment for his commitment, his sincerity and his selfless participation. From this time on, he devoted his life entirely to the revolution. At the beginning of 2018, he went to Afrin to defend the region against the Turkish invasion. In Afrin, he fought alongside his sister Vejîn (Semira Ali), who died in the resistance. Bîrhat suffered a serious wound. After Turkey occupied Afrin, he went to the mountains and joined the guerrillas.

Life in the mountains was new territory for him, but he was able to adapt quickly. His deep desire for revenge also contributed to this. He oriented himself towards experienced comrades and concentrated on modern guerrilla tactics.

When the Turkish state launched a major attack on the Medya defense areas in 2021, it went to the war zone in the Zap at its own persistent suggestion and professionally implemented the tactics it had learned in actions against the invading troops.

He was very active and his courage contributed to the success of many attacks. He fought in the tunnel systems built by the guerrillas and in mobile units on the ground and, with his determined attitude, became a source of morale and strength for his fellow fighters. He stuck to this attitude with great conviction until the end.