The Afrin Liberation Forces (HRE) released a statement announcing the death of two of their fighters. Accordingly, Cilo Baliya and Xabur Efrin lost their lives while on duty in the Afrin region on April 15.

Offering condolences to the families of the two fallen fighters, HRE stated the following:

"During the popular uprisings against the Baath regime across Syria in 2011, the Kurdish people in Rojava (West Kurdistan) liberated their cities one by one under the lead of the Revolutionary Youth Movement. There was almost no place left not affected by the revolutionary process. Our comrade Cilo from the resistance area was one of those to join the ranks of the YPG (People’s Defense Units) in the Afrin region in 2012. He took part in the liberation campaigns in Shehba and surrounding regions as the YPG fought mercenary groups such as al-Nusra and ISIS. Our comrade Cilo also participated in the 58-day-long resistance against the invaders in Afrin on the frontlines. Married and father of three children, he fought to protect the region and achieve its security. After the invasion of Afrin, he trained himself at command level to return to the land where he was born and raised. He witnessed at first hand the suffering of the Afrin people who were forcibly displaced to Shehba and other regions. He acted with responsibility towards his land, people and companions. He undertook his duties and responsibilities with great awareness and scrupulousness.

Comrade Xabur Efrin, like any patriot committed to his land, was influenced by free thought and joined our ranks to bring the enemy to account for the invasion of Afrin. With his iron will, he never agreed to surrender and remained persistent in his struggle to return to Afrin. His primary goal was to turn back to Afrin together with his people. He undertook great responsibilities. We will make his dreams come true."

The ID information of the fallen HRE fighters is as follows:

Nom de Guerre: Cîlo Baliya

First-Last Name: Mehmûd Îbrahîm

Mother’s Name: Emine

Father’s Name: Cemal

Place and Date of Martyrdom: Afrin region / 15 April 2023

***

Nom de Guerre: Xabûr Efrîn

Place and Date of Martyrdom: Afrin region / 15 April 2023