Four cousins martyred in Raqqa laid to rest in Manbij

Four fighters of the Manbij Military Council, who fell as martyrs in the operation to liberate Raqqa on the 10th of June in the village of Qabîe, were bid farewell in a funeral ceremony held in Manbij.

Residents of Manbij gathered at the Firat Hospital to receive the coffins of the four martyrs of the Manbij Military Council, cousins Hadi Hac Mihemed, Hesen Ibrahim, Ednan Hac Mihemed and Fehed Hac Mihemed who fell in the operation to liberate Raqqa in Qabîe village on June 10th. The mass marched afterwards to the Cemetery of Martyrs.

At the cemetery the Self Defense Forces performed a military ceremony, whereafter Manbij Martyrs' Families Assembly Co-chairperson Ibrahim Xilîf gave a speech which he opened with addressing to Turkish President Recep Tayip Erdogan as an enemy of people's unity, saying: "The terror has swept over Syria and the regions with the active help from Erdogan". Referring to all four martyrs he said that all four heroic cousins have sacrificed their lives for the protection of their homeland and honour.

Speaking after, Co-chair of Manbij Defence Council Nofe Silêman stated: "We express our sympathy to all mothers whose children have fallen martyr for the sake of their homeland and honour".

Regarding the military attacks of the Turkish state on Manbij, Nofe Silêman made clear: "The more the fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) gain victory over the gangs of ISIS, the more the Turkish state gets enraged and shells Manbij. But these attacks of the Turkish state have failed, as the fighters of Manbij Military Council have frustrated these assaults bravely".

Following the speeches, Manbij Martyrs' Families Assembly member Mihemed Omer read aloud the identities of the four martyrs and handed over the martyrdom certificates to their families, after which the mass laid the martyrs to rest.