Freed Peshmerga welcomed home with tears and ululations
SORAN, Kurdistan Region – The people of Soran came out to welcome home their son, Saed Ahmed Omer, a Peshmerga who was freed Saturday after nearly two months in ISIS captivity.
Clean-shaven, Omer, who is deaf, looked overwhelmed to be back with his family. His daughter Dunia clung tight to his hand, but his two-year old son did not recognize him. He told Rudaw he thought he would never see his five children again.
Omer was taken captive on May 28 during an overnight ISIS attack against Peshmerga near Tuz Khurmatu, the last known abduction of a Peshmerga by ISIS. Six Peshmerga were wounded in the attack.
He was freed by counter-terrorism forces, Abdullah Bor, Peshmerga commander at the Tuz Khurmatu front, confirmed on Saturday.
Sixty-three Peshmerga have either gone missing in action or were captured by ISIS militants since 2014, President Barzani told European lawmakers during his recent visit to Brussels.
Clean-shaven, Omer, who is deaf, looked overwhelmed to be back with his family. His daughter Dunia clung tight to his hand, but his two-year old son did not recognize him. He told Rudaw he thought he would never see his five children again.
Omer was taken captive on May 28 during an overnight ISIS attack against Peshmerga near Tuz Khurmatu, the last known abduction of a Peshmerga by ISIS. Six Peshmerga were wounded in the attack.
He was freed by counter-terrorism forces, Abdullah Bor, Peshmerga commander at the Tuz Khurmatu front, confirmed on Saturday.
Sixty-three Peshmerga have either gone missing in action or were captured by ISIS militants since 2014, President Barzani told European lawmakers during his recent visit to Brussels.