An attack by a Turkish killer drone targeted the communication center of Til Temir Military Council in northeastern Syria on August 19, 2021. The attack claimed the lives of Sosin Bîrhat, who was a member of the military councils of the SDF and the Women's Defense Units (YPJ), Egîd Girkêlegê, a commander of the Til Temir Military Council, and Til Temir Military Council fighters Rubar Hesekê and Seyfullah Ehmed.

Sosin Bîrhat was from Afrin and participated in every phase of the revolutionary process in Rojava and the liberation offensives in northern and eastern Syria. As a YPJ commander, she participated in the fight against ISIS and the Turkish occupation on the frontline.

Egîd Girkêlegê was part of the defense of the peoples of northern and eastern Syria since the first sparks of the revolution. Rubar Hesekê and Seyfullah Ehmed joined the struggle for Rojava in its most critical phase.

The General Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) released a statement paying tribute to the commanders and fighters killed in the Turkish attack. The SDF statement includes the following:

“While we recall our heroic martyrs on the first anniversary of their martyrdom, we reiterate our pledge to them and our people to retaliate for their pure blood by escalating, with resolve, the legitimate military response against the occupation and terrorism.

Our SDF forces were the pioneering revolutionary force, protecting our multi-ethnic community, ensuring safety and stability in North-East Syria, providing sacrifices for the sake of people’s freedom, and repelling the systematic attacks of the Turkish occupying state and its mercenaries.

The two SDF commanders, Sosin and Rinas, along with their comrades were among the true heroes of our SDF forces beloved by their people. They dedicated their entire lives to protecting the region against all attacks until they lost their lives due to a treacherous terrorist attack conducted by the Turkish occupation and its spies.

The martyrdom of our comrades has given us an additional motivation to hunt down the traitors and spies of the occupation.

On this basis, our forces have launched “Operation Oath” to hunt down the spies and agents affiliated with the Turkish occupying state. This successful operation has resulted in arresting many spies including those involved in the martyrdom of the commander Sosin and her comrades.

In accordance with the wishes of our people and to fulfill our pledge to our martyrs, we insist to continue “Operation Oath” to drain the swamp of treachery, and we reiterate once again our resolve to impose the most severe punishments on the traitors.

No doubt the martyrdom of our comrade Sosin and her comrades was so tragic and a big loss, yet they will remain immortal in the hearts of all our fighters.

We are certain that our people will honor their martyrs by abiding by the martyrs’ values ​​and gains made by their blood and standing with our forces in their legitimate struggle to prevent the enemy and its agents from achieving their goals.”