Baghdadi killing “vengeance” for Yezidi women: SDF

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region- The killing of Islamic State (ISIS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi avenges “Kurdish Yezidi women” and all who have been hurt by ISIS, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said on Sunday, accusing Turkey of sheltering the terrorist leader.

“We consider the operation a vengeance for Kobane, Shingal, Khabur River, Nineveh Plains, Kirkuk, Xanaqin, Maxmour, especially a revenge for the Kurdish Yezidi women, and a revenge for humanity,” SDF spokesperson Redur Xelil told reporters in Hasaka on Sunday. 

In the early hours of Sunday, following a US-led covert operation, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, committed suicide by explosive belt after being discovered by US special forces.

The terror group has a left a notorious legacy of genocide against Yezidis, forced conversions imposed on religious minorities, and death and destruction. The group was declared defeated in Iraq at the end of 2017 and in March 2019 in Syria. 

Yezidis were among the biggest victims of ISIS when their  stronghold of Shingal, near the Syrian border, was overrun in 2014. Thousands of women were kidnapped, and sold into sexual slavery. Yezidi children were brainwashed and trained as child soldiers, while men were shot on site and killed en masse. The scars inflicted on the community five years ago remain as fresh as ever.  

The Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), and its female counterpart Women's Protection Units (YPJ), opened a safety corridor into Syria for Yezidis stranded on Mount Sinjar in August 2014, saving thousands from ISIS. Both Kurdish groups, which form the backbone of the SDF, have also been instrumental in freeing tens of Yezidi women and children from the hands of ISIS during their anti-ISIS ops.

“The operation that today took place was a revenge for anyone around the world hurt by the Daesh terrorist organization,” Xelil added, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. 

The Netherlands-based Free Yezidi Foundation (FYF) praised the US-led operation on “rapist” al-Baghdadi, who was known for abusing several Yezidi women, as well as US aid worker Kayla Mueller. In tweets published Sunday evening, FYF added that although many in the community welcomed his death, a trial would have been preferable. Speaking of the genocide, it added that “the memories will always be there. One day perhaps it will be exposed through actual indictments and trials.”

The SDF claimed that after taking control of Baghouz, ISIS' last bastion in Eastern Syria on March 23, they obtained "confirmed information" that Baghdadi had gone to Idlib, but they had not confirmed his exact whereabouts. "In the last days, his whereabouts were confirmed, and that information was shared with the American side, especially the CIA,” the SDF asserted.

“As a result of joint sensitive and precise work for more than five months, between the Military Intelligence of the Syrian Democratic Forces and American forces, through coordination on the highest levels, the head of the Daesh, known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been eliminated in a joint operation with American forces today at dawn near one of the Turkish military bases in the Barisha village in the province of Idlib,” the SDF said.

The dawn operation was conducted with "actual participation" of the SDF's intelligence branch, who were very "vital members" of the whole operation, claimed the Kurdish military force.

They added that the recent Turkish incursion in Rojava delayed the operation. 

“We from the Syrian Democratic Forces would like to announce that this operation was delayed for more than a month due to the Turkish aggression on our region,” Xelil claimed, referring to Turkey’s so-called “Peace Spring” operation into Kurdish-controlled Syrian territory on October 9.

The invasion was preceded by the withdrawal of US forces from the area based on the order of US President Donald Trump. Due to the Turkish invasion, SDF has to concentrate on defending its areas.

SDF Media Spokesman Mazloum Abdi told Associated Foreign Press (AFP) on Sunday that the death of the terror leader “will lead to revenge attacks”, including potential prison breaks. Security in SDF-prisons holding ISIS prisoners has been of major concern in recent weeks as Kurdish resources run low amid the Turkish invasion. Several prisoners managed to escape a Qamishli prison following Turkish shelling on October 11.

ISIS propaganda outlet Nashirnews announced via Telegram announced several attacks in recent days on SDF, Syrian and Iraqi forces.

Why was Baghdadi in areas under Turkish influence?
 
Baghdadi was sheltered by Turkey and Turkey has to answer why he was in areas in Idlib province that are under Turkish influence, the SDF also argued.

“We have before said that Daesh leaders are abetted and sheltered in Turkish state-controlled areas [in Syria]. Today's event, as we have already said, is the the biggest evidence of our argument,” the SDF added.

“This is the big question that needs to be asked, which the Turkish state has to answer. What was Baghdadi doing in areas under the influence of the Turkish forces in Idlib city near the Turkish border?" Xelil asked.

Turkey has multiple observation points across the border of the Idlib province in Northwestern Syria. Idlib is dominated by Jihadist groups, especially the Hayat Tahrir Sham, the former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. The Turkish presence is based on an agreement from last year to prevent a Syrian offensive into the province.

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