VIDEO: Peshmerga soldier recovers after being critically injured

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A Kurdish Peshmerga soldier recovered after being critically injured in clashes against Islamic State (IS) militants in northeastern Mosul.

Darbaz Abdullah, a 27-year-old Peshmerga soldier, was wounded on Oct. 20 in the village of Tiskhrab, northeastern Mosul.

The incident occurred during a Peshmerga offensive in retaking several villages near Bashiqa town.

“Some of my friends were injured during the clashes, and I tried to help,” Abdullah told Kurdistan24 correspondent Tayfur Mohammed.

“It was a dark and smoky weather because IS burnt tires. All of a sudden, I saw a suicide car bomb headed toward us and blow up,” he continued.

A two-meter long piece of iron went inside Abdullah’s left side and came out through his abdomen.

Additionally, the Peshmerga soldier lost his ear drums and had one of his arms broken.

“I wasn’t expecting him to stay alive after I saw him,” his mother told Kurdistan24.

Abdullah has six brothers, five of whom also serve in the Peshmerga military services fighting the extremist group on the front lines.

“I am proud of them all very much,” the mother said. “They defend their homeland.”

“If they don’t get martyred for such a cause, what else should they possibly be martyred for?” She cried, saying her heart was always with them when they were on the front lines. 

The following is Abdullah’s interview with Kurdistan24 (Warning: Graphic Content):

Peshmerga soldiers have been labeled as one of the most efficient ground forces in defeating IS in northern Iraq.

They have participated in the Mosul military operation along with Iraqi security forces which began on Oct. 17.

Both forces have liberated several areas and have advanced to center of the city where the operation is ongoing.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany