Two fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were killed in Wednesday night's clashes in the outskirts of Ain Issa. This was announced by the press office of the multi-ethnic alliance on Saturday. The fighting had broken out as a result of artillery attacks on villages and wheat silos between Ain Issa and Girê Spî (Tal Abyad). The area had already come under widespread shelling on Tuesday.

A third member of the SDF was also martyred on the same day, according to reports. According to the SDF statement, the fighter died as a result of injuries he had sustained nearly four years ago during the liberation offensive in Raqqa.

The personal details of the martyrs are as follows:

Nom de Guerre: Roj

First-Last Name: Ahmed Sattar Al-Tillan

Father’s Name: Abdul Sattar

Mother’s Name: Heja

Date and Place of Martyrdom: Qazali-Silos, Girê Spî / 1. Juli 2021

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Nom de Guerre: Şoreş

First-Last Name: Muhammad Nour Ahmad Al-Abdullah

Father’s Name: Ahmad

Mother’s Name: Farha

Date and Place of Martyrdom: Ain Issa / 1. Juli 2021

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Nom de Guerre: Abu Manar

First-Last Name: Khaled Hussein Al-Kali

Father’s Name: Hussein

Mother’s Name: Noura

Date and Place of Martyrdom: Raqqa / 1. Juli 2021

The Syrian Democratic Forces paid tribute to the struggle of the martyrs and extended their condolences to the relatives of their members.

Attacks on Ain Issa

For weeks, Turkish jihadist occupation forces have intensified attacks on rural residential areas and civilian infrastructure surrounding the town of Girê Spî, which was annexed to the illegal occupation zone in northern Syria in October 2019 based on an agreement between the United States, Russia and Turkey. The aim of these attacks, as part of a low-intensity war that has been ongoing for more than a year, is to also occupy the nearby town of Ain Issa. Ain Issa is located on the M4 highway, which runs through northern Syria like a lifeline and connects the Euphrates and Cizîrê regions. As such, it is of strategic importance. The capture of Ain Issa would cut the connection between Kobanê and Til Koçer on the border with Iraq.