The leading Kurdish militia in northeast Syria has apologized for its actions against an opposition Kurdish political party that resulted in the deaths of several civilians in 2013. The gesture by the People’s Protection Units (YPG) is aimed at accelerating a US-brokered political reconciliation process between its political arm, the Democratic Unity Party (PYD), and an alliance of opposition parties united under the umbrella of the Kurdistan National Council.  

YPG spokesman Nuri Mahmoud today called the events that took place in June 2013 in the town of Amude “a catastrophe.”

“We acknowledge the big mistake that killed innocent people as a result of a collision between one of our military units that was on the way back from the front line and demonstrators,” Mahmoud said. He was referring to protests that erupted in Amude over the arbitrary detentions of members of the opposition Yekiti party. The demonstrations lasted for two days, and at least six people were reported to have died after YPG snipers took aim at the crowd.

The remarks came during a meeting that took place between YPG representatives and members of a committee appointed to make amends for the deaths under the auspices of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) commander in chief, Mazlum Kobane, who also goes by the name Mazlum Abdi. Kobane told the meeting that he was ready to do “everything possible to heal this wound” and pledged material compensation for the victims’ families.