People in the northern Syrian canton of Shehba bid farewell to YAT (anti-terrorist units) fighter Berfîn Bîlal (Rojeng Rifet), who died along with 8 companions in helicopter crashes in southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) on March 15, and Manbij Military Council fighters Ebdulmenan Seydo (Ebû Seyf) and Mistefa Mihemed (Seyfedîn) who lost their lives while on military mission at the Tishrin Dam on March 22.

Thousands of people from Afrin and Shehba joined the funeral procession to the ‘Cemetery of the Martyrs of the Age’ in the Ehres district.

Speaking at the ceremony in the cemetery, Mistefa Hesen, a member of the Council of Martyrs’ Families, offered his condolences to the families of martyrs.

Hesen condemned the killing of four Kurdish locals in Afrin’s Jindires district, praising their action to celebrate Newroz by lighting a fire in response to the ethnic genocide and crimes committed against the people in Jindires.

Speaking after, Rohilat Efrîn, a commander of the YPJ (Women’s Defense Units), stated that deaths only increased their resolve to liberate the occupied areas.

Pointing to the Turkish president’s threats against North-East Syria, the YPJ Commander said: “The invading Turkish state continues its plans to revive the Otttoman Empire to the detriment of of the region’s people. They threatened the region once again two days ago. We will frustrate their plans with the resilient spirit of the people and liberate all occupied territories.”

After speeches, the three martyrs were laid to rest.