Assyrian Federations Accuse YPG Kurds of Assassinating Assyrian Military Leader

David Gindo (L) and Elias Naser, who were allegedly shot by members of the Kurdish militia YPG in the Khabur region in Syria. David was killed, Elias survived (AINA photo). (AINA) -- A joint statement issued by the Assyrian Federation of Germany and the Assyrian Federation of Sweden claims the assassination of an Assyrian military commander in Syria was carried out by members of the People's Defense Units (YPG), a Kurdish military group in eastern Syria.

On April 22nd commander David Gindo and Elias Naser were shot (AINA 2015-04-23). David Gindo was killed immediately. Elias Naser was critically wounded and left for dead, but he survived. He is unable to speak because one bullet hit his throat.

According to testimony from Mr. Naser, written while in hospital a few days after the attack, the assassins were members of the YPG. He specified the pseudonyms of three of them.

Mr. Naser said they voluntarily left with the 5 YPG members, expecting to go to a secret location for a meeting with another Assyrian. They were blindfolded en route and when they arrived at a location unknown to them they were accused of collaborating with both ISIS and government forces. David Gindo was severely beaten before being shot execution style. Elias Naser was shot in the throat and after he fell forward was shot in the back.

When the YPG members left Mr. Naser crawled 500 meters to a road where he was picked up and taken to hospital. He is now recuperating in a secret location, with his wife and children.

The following statement, posted on the YPG website, says an investigation has been opened into this incident:

ROJAVA, April 29, 2015 - On April 22, 2015, Commander of the Zerevani forces, Khabur Dawid Cindo, was martyred as a result of an attack, and his fellow fighters were wounded. We in the General Command of the People's Defense Units, Syriac Military Council and Khabur Zerevani Forces, consider this assassination as an attack against peoples in the region who share a new form of brotherhood and peaceful life. This attack has happened at a time that Syriac, Kildani, Assyrian and all Christian people are remembering the Seyfo Genocide with sorrow; at a time that our Units have gained significant victories against terrorist attacks of Daesh in Khabur area, Til Temr town where tens of our hero combatants have been martyred expressing a historical resistance. Declaring for the public opinion, we will work decisively to bring the killers to justice, as we have put up a special committee for investigation on this incidental case; the results will be revealed once the process is completed.

It is not clear if the motive for this attack was political or criminal. The YPG gunmen stole 750,000 Syrian Pounds, 35 AK47s and few PKC machine guns from Mr. Naser's home.

Here is the joint statement from the Assyrian Federations: