American volunteer with YPG died two days before Manbij victory

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region—William Savage, from the state of Maryland in the US, was killed on August 10, in the final days of the operation to liberate Manbij from the Islamic State (ISIS). 

Savage, joined the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) as a volunteer in early 2015. He fought using the Kurdish name Amed Kobane. 

He was taking part in an effort to rescue civilians in Manbij city when he was seriously injured in an ISIS bombardment. The medical team was unable to save him. 

“Despite all differences, William believed in building a common and peaceful life,” reads a statement from the YPG on his death. And his memory “will stay alive in the hearts and souls of all his friends.”

The operation to liberate the northern Syrian city of Manbij was launched in late May by the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) under the auspices of the Manbij Military Council. They declared victory in the city on August 12, two days after Savage’s death.

At least six foreign volunteers have died in Manbij including Mario Nunes, Levi Jonathan Shirley, Dean Carl Evans, Martin Gruden, and Jordan MacTaggart.