An Australian man has reportedly died in Syria while fighting Islamic State forces with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, also known as YPG.
Jamie Bright, 45, joined up with the Kurdish fighters in December last year. His death could not be confirmed by Australian officials, but was announced by YPG on Facebook.
“Sadly another Australian volunteer who joined the YPG has died,” reads the post. “He joined on the 15th of December 2015. Martyred in southern Shaddadi in southern Raqqa. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts and support are with his family. May God help them.”
Fighters also posted a video of Bright, who had allegedly taken the name of Heval Gabar, to Twitter:
Friends it’s so sad Australian YPG hero Jamie Bright, Heval Gabar, martyred in the fight against daesh #SehidNamirin pic.twitter.com/VmuhVxIzYK
— Rojava (@AzadiRojava) May 29, 2016
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that it had no idea if he was actually dead, and very little capacity to actually find out.
“The Australian Government’s capacity to confirm reports of deaths in Syria is extremely limited,” a spokeswoman told The Australian.
“Due to the exceptionally dangerous security situation, DFAT is not able to provide consular assistance in Syria, which is listed as a ‘do not travel’ destination in DFAT’s travel advice.”
Source: Daily Mail.
Photo: YPG.
