SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) President Bafel Talabani on Friday sent a message of condolence to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the anti-terror units of Rojava (YAT) following Duhok’s helicopter crash incident last Wednesday.
At least nine members including a senior commander of Rojava’s anti-terror units were killed following helicopter crash incident in Kurdistan Region’s Duhok, SDF claimed in a statement on Friday.
“While the two helicopters carrying our group of fighters were on their way to Sulaimani city on the evening of March 15, 2023, they crashed due to bad weather conditions, leading to the martyrdom of nine of our fighters, including the commander of the YAT forces Shervan Kobani,” it said.
Talabani in the message extended his “heartfelt” condolences to SDF and YAT, expressing solidarity.
“The anti-terror units (YAT) played an effective role in the fight against ISIS militants in Rojava and guarded the holy land of Kurdistan against terrorism, and left a legacy of great sovereignty,” Talabani stated.
“The PUK is proud of the glorious history, that the Counter-Terrorism Forces (CTG) struggled alongside the Rojava’s counter-terrorism units in order to protect the Kurdistan soil, recording heroic stories,” he added.
In his concluding remarks, Talabani extended his “deepest” condolences to General Mazlum Kobane, the commander-in-chief of the SDF, anti-terror units (YAT), and all fellow citizens, especially in Rojava.
Moreover, the SDF in the statement called on the Kurdistan Region authorities to cooperate with counterparts Rojava to hand over the bodies of the victims.
