Shervan Derwish, spokesperson for the Manbij Military Council, was treated for 25 days in hospital after an “assassination attempt,” the Council’s media centre said in a statement.
He has now returned home and is in “good health,” it added.
In March, Harakat al-Qiyam claimed to have assassinated Derwish, releasing video on social media. Rudaw cannot independently verify the group’s claims.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) describes Harakat al-Qiyam as an “anti-YPG insurgent group” that is “likely backed by Turkey.”
“The group appears relatively small in size, but has carried out a series of targeted attacks against the YPG, primarily via motorcycle, since early October 2017,” ISW stated.
They claimed to have carried out several attacks and assassinations against the Kurdish YPG forces and Manbij leaders.
ISW posits that the goal of militant groups like Harakat al-Qiyam, possibly being directed by al-Qaeda or ISIS, is to undermine security in Kurdish-controlled areas.
Manbij officials did not release information about the attack on Derwish.
The attempted assassination came as Turkey was threatening military action against Manbij.
The Manbij Military Council was established by the YPG-led SDF in the summer of 2016 to oversee retaking the northern Syrian city from ISIS. The multi-ethnic Council has received support from the US-led coalition, which has a base in the area.
Ankara considers the Kurdish groups in northern Syria, the armed YPG and the political party PYD, branches of the PKK, a named terror organization.
