A British man who travelled to Syria to fight against Islamic State has been killed while clearing mines in the recently-liberated city of Raqqa.
The man, named as 24-year-old Oliver Hall from the Portsmouth area, had only been in the war-torn country for about four months when he died.
He was said to have been clearing mines from Raqqa, which had been under the so-called caliphate’s control for three and a half years, with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) when he was caught in an explosion and fatally injured.
His family have been informed.
Oliver Hall, who has been killed while clearing mines in Raqqa (YPG/PA)
A statement from Mark Campbell, co-chairman of the Kurdish Solidarity Campaign, said: “It is with deep regret and sorrow that I can confirm via Kurdish sources in Syria that Ollie Hall, a UK national who travelled to Syria in August to help in the liberation of the Isis city of Raqqa with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), fell on 25 November from an explosion of ordnance left by Daesh after the liberation of the city.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Ollie at this time.”
Posts on social media appeared to show Mr Hall in Raqqa, wearing camouflage clothing and carrying weaponry, with messages pledging solidarity between the UK and Syria.
The posts were accompanied by good luck messages from friends at home.
Mr Hall’s death comes just over a month after the fatal injury to fellow Briton Jac Holmes, a sniper from Bournemouth, who had fought alongside the YPG since January 2015.
He was also clearing mines in Raqqa when he died.
The other British fatalities fighting against IS are Mehmet Aksoy, 32, Luke Rutter, 22, Ryan Lock, 20, Dean Evans, 22, and Konstandinos Erik Scurfield, 25.
Raqqa had served as the capital of IS’s so-called caliphate since 2014, and had been under the group’s control for more than three and a half years until its liberation last month.
The YPG, also known as the People’s Protection Units, is mostly made up of Kurdish men and women fighting against IS in northern Syria.
In a video published alongside a tribute to “martyr” Mr Hall on the YPG Facebook page, he said: “I came here of my own free will knowing all the risks and consequences that can follow.
“Whilst being here I’ve received all the language training, political, history and background to everything.
“Greetings to all my family and friends if unfortunately you are reading this.”
The YPG tribute said: “The mop-up operation initiated in the city of Raqqa since the end of the liberation campaign of the city has been continuing unceasingly.
“Hundreds of mines and traps have been placed inside almost every building in the city, so the cleaning process is carried out with great care.
“Fighters show a great effort and abnegation even after the operation to ensure that the inhabitants of the city return safely.
“On November 25th, 2017, Canser Zagros (Oliver Hall), who was involved in mine clearance work, martyred as he was trying to defuse a booby-trap.
“We’d like to extend our sympathy to our martyr’s family.”