Five members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) were martyred in a drone attack on a US base in the desert region of Deir ez-Zor on 5 February. The target of the attack was a section within the base at the Al-Omar oil field east of Deir ez-Zor, where the SDF operates a Special Forces Commando (Hêzên Komandos) training centre. The pro-Iranian group “Islamic Resistance in Iraq” has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The fallen SDF fighters, Ammar (Bilal Muhammad Al-Saud), Demhat (Abdul Razzaq Ayesh Al-Saud), Gelhat (Ammar Daoud Abdul Wahab), Zagros Kelase (Omar Daoud Abdul Wahab) and Omar (Muhammad Ahmed Sharabi), were laid to rest in the Hesekê Canton on Wednesday.

Speaking on behalf of the Assembly of Martyrs' Families at the funeral ceremony attended by thousands of people, Fatme Ali said, "Thanks to the sacrifices of our martyrs such as Demhat, Gelhat, Emmar, Zagros Kelase and Omer, the people of the region have achieved many successes."

Speaking on behalf of the SDF, Serhed Tirbespiyê, Commander of the Military Council of the Cizre Canton, expressed his condolences to the families of the martyrs and emphasised that they will follow in the footsteps of all martyrs of freedom.

The SDF Commander drew attention to the efforts of the occupying Turkish state and its partners to create discord in the lands of Deir ez-Zor.

Stating that the Turkish state failed to realise its plans in Deir ez-Zor and targeted the infrastructure of the region, Serhed promised that they would avenge the martyrs and protect the region from chaos.

After the speeches, Gulçîn Ehmê, member of the Assembly of Martyrs’ Families, read the martyrdom certificates of the fallen fighters and handed them over to their families.

The bodies of the martyrs were then laid to rest to the accompaniment of slogans.