SDF frees a young Yazidi kidnapped by ISIS mercenaries

The Syrian Democratic Forces Media Center published news of the young man's release, accompanied by a statement from the young man about what he experienced at the hands of ISIS mercenaries after his abduction from Shengal.

According to the publication, a special security operation carried out by the Syrian Democratic Forces Special Operations teams on March 12th resulted in the release of the young man, Othman Khairo Khodi Da, who was kidnapped by ISIS mercenaries from Shengal during the attack they launched on August 3, 2014.

According to the Media Center, the young man, "Othman," hails from the village of al-Wardiya in Shengal region.

The young man, Othman, recounts his kidnapping story, according to a report published by the Syrian Democratic Forces. He says, "I was born in 2006, and I was a child when ISIS kidnapped me in 2014. After I was kidnapped by ISIS members along with my entire family, the organization separated me and my brother from my family." He confirms that he remained in the Iraqi city of Mosul for three months, where he was separated from his brother. ISIS then proceeded to send him and sixty other Yazidi children to the city of Albukamal in Syria.

Regarding his experiences, Othman explained, "After our arrival in Albukamal, ISIS subjected us to a three-year Sharia course and gave me the name Osama al-Sinjari. We were then transferred to the Syrian desert to receive military training, where we remained for three years. After that, I was transferred to the Homs desert as a fighter within the ranks of ISIS, where I remained for four years. During that time, I was injured in my right leg when a landmine exploded."

The freed young man, Othman, added, "At the end of 2024, while I was at a site in the Homs desert where injured ISIS members were receiving first aid, the site was primarily a meeting point. During a meeting of ISIS leaders at that site, it was hit by a violent airstrike by international coalition forces, resulting in the deaths of 20 terrorists, including senior leaders. I miraculously survived the bombing."

At the end of his conversation, the young man, Othman Khairo Khodi Da, expressed his joy at his liberation and extended a message of thanks and gratitude to the Syrian Democratic Forces, who freed him and, before him, thousands of Yazidis, especially women, from ISIS.

T/S

ANHA