• A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Amed, right, take position during clashes with Islamic State group fighters in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Amed, right, take position during clashes with Islamic State group fighters in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 28-year old foreign fighter from the Netherlands, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Serdar in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 28-year old foreign fighter from the Netherlands, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Serdar in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 33-year old from New Zealand, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Welat, brushes his teeth in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 33-year old from New Zealand, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Welat, brushes his teeth in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 26-year old foreign fighter from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighter as Hewal Cudi in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, , as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 26-year old foreign fighter from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighter as Hewal Cudi in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, , as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 67-year old man from Canada and a 40-year old from the UK, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Zinar, left, and Hewal Cudi train in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey.
    A 67-year old man from Canada and a 40-year old from the UK, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Zinar, left, and Hewal Cudi train in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey.
  • A 28-year old foreign fighter from the UK, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Baran in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 28-year old foreign fighter from the UK, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Baran in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Amed, sleeps in an abandoned building in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Amed, sleeps in an abandoned building in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 67-year old foreign fighter from Canada, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Zinar in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 67-year old foreign fighter from Canada, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Zinar in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 21-year old from the UK and 23 year-old from the US nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Sores, left, in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as they fight alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 21-year old from the UK and 23 year-old from the US nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Sores, left, in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as they fight alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Amed in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Amed in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 26-year old from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Dilsad, shows a picture of his wife and son in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 26-year old from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Dilsad, shows a picture of his wife and son in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Bahoz in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 26-year old ex-military member from the US, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Bahoz in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 40 and a 21 year old from the UK nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Cudi, left, and Hewal Sores check maps in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as they fight alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 40 and a 21 year old from the UK nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Cudi, left, and Hewal Sores check maps in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as they fight alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
  • A 21-year old from the UK, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Givara, stands with his weapon at night in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.
    A 21-year old from the UK, nick-named by Kurdish fighters as Hewal Givara, stands with his weapon at night in the outskirts of the north-western Syrian town of Tal Tamr, north of Hasakeh, near the border with Turkey, as he fights alongside People Protection Unit (YPG) fighters under the commanders, Sider and Gerzan.

Foreign fighters of Kurdish military

Robert Mickelson

April 21, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

International fighters, some of whom are former members of the military and others with zero combat experience came to Syria to help Kurdish forces in their fight against ISIL. Since very few YPG fighters speak English, the foreign fighters are mostly assigned together in troops.

Photos by Uygar Onder Simsek / AFP

ISIS