Women wage war on Islamic State

Women wage war on Islamic State

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Women fighters at a Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant base on Mount Sinjar in northwest Iraq, just like their male counterparts, have to be ready for action at any time. Smoke from the front line, marking their battle against Islamic State, which launched an assault on northern Iraq last summer, is visible from the base.

Reuters photographer Asmaa Waguih spent time with the women who have taken up arms.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih
A fighter adjusts her scarf while another carries a picture of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan.

As the pickup truck carrying the soldiers passed by the winding road on Mount Sinjar, northwest Iraq, a child on the roadside cheered the soldiers and raised his hands with the V-sign. He chanted, "Biji Scrok Apo", Kurdish for, "Long live Apo," referring to the jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan.

Islamic State militants overpowered Kurdish forces in the Sinjar area of Iraq last August and proceeded to purge its Yazidi population - an ancient, predominantly Kurdish people who follow their own religion - killing hundreds and taking thousands captive.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

I had asked to go to Mount Sinjar because I knew there were Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant bases there and that women would be among the fighters. They were very kind and welcoming towards me but they had work to do.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Ever since the Islamic State took over Mount Sinjar and declared its cross-border caliphate last year, many minority Yazidis have joined forces with PKK fighters and Kurdish peshmerga fighters from Iraqi Kurdistan who defended their lands.

Grateful to the Kurds, many Yazidis decided to join with them to fight Islamic State and free the rest of Sinjar.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih
Fighter stand near a position hit by Islamic State car bombs.

I didn't make it to the front line, which marks the battle against Islamic State, but I could see it from Mount Sinjar.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Male and women fighters worked together, side by side. All of the fighters, whether women or men, don’t get married, choosing to sacrifice their personal lives for the cause they believe in.

Many women I met were from families who were staunch supporters of the PKK, often with other members joining up. The fighters were willing to give up having a family of their own to defend their land, dying in the process if necessary.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih
Haval Raperin, a member and leader of a group of PKK fighters combs her hair.

Some of the women had cut links with home. The fighters came from different parts of Kurdistan but spoke a common dialect of Kurdish so they could understand each other.

They addressed each other as “comrade” and it was clear that they supported each other in whatever challenge they faced.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih
A displaced Yazidi family, including a fighter, who live in tents nearby, chant slogans as a military convoy carrying the body of a Yazidi fighter passes by.

These women and their male counterparts are an example of what some may see as an extreme example of patriotism. They are very organised and strong-minded women.

It makes me feel that being a Kurd is something very unique. You always have another language and country that are part of your identity, while dreaming of a land of your own: an ideal that you’ll defend, come what may.

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Slideshow

Fighters adjust a machine gun as they prepare to join others near a position which has been hit by Islamic State car bombs.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters adjust a machine gun as they prepare to join others near a position which has been hit by Islamic State car bombs.

A fighter takes a photo of visitors from another base.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A fighter takes a photo of visitors from another base.

Fighters wave goodbye as they leave after a visit from another base.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters wave goodbye as they leave after a visit from another base.

Fighters discuss tactics to reach a position which had been hit by Islamic State car bombs.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters discuss tactics to reach a position which had been hit by Islamic State car bombs.

Female fighters walk through destroyed houses which were freed from Islamic State fighters.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Female fighters walk through destroyed houses which were freed from Islamic State fighters.

Fighters walk through destroyed houses, which were freed by them from Islamic State fighters.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters walk through destroyed houses, which were freed by them from Islamic State fighters.

Fighters prepare to attend a military funeral for a Yazidi fighter from YBS who was killed during fighting with Islamic State militants. YBS is a Yazidi militant group fighting against Islamic State.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters prepare to attend a military funeral for a Yazidi fighter from YBS who was killed during fighting with Islamic State militants. YBS is a Yazidi militant group fighting against Islamic State.

The mother of a Yazidi fighter from YBS (second right), who was killed during fighting with Islamic State militants, mourns with relatives over the body of her son during a funeral ceremony.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

The mother of a Yazidi fighter from YBS (second right), who was killed during fighting with Islamic State militants, mourns with relatives over the body of her son during a funeral ceremony.

Fighters leave to join others at a position which had been hit by Islamic State car bombs.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters leave to join others at a position which had been hit by Islamic State car bombs.

A displaced Yazidi woman takes a nap in a room at a base for female PKK fighters. On the wall hang pictures of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan (centre), a Yazidi shrine, and PKK fighters who died in fighting.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A displaced Yazidi woman takes a nap in a room at a base for female PKK fighters. On the wall hang pictures of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan (centre), a Yazidi shrine, and PKK fighters who died in fighting.

Female fighters talk as they sit around a heater.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Female fighters talk as they sit around a heater.

Fighters sit with a Yazidi family, including a member of YBS (right), near their base.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters sit with a Yazidi family, including a member of YBS (right), near their base.

A fighter stands outside a base.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A fighter stands outside a base.

Female fighters help in an area they use for cooking.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Female fighters help in an area they use for cooking.

A fighter carries bread, as other members play with Yazidi children.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A fighter carries bread, as other members play with Yazidi children.

Fighters talk in an area they use for baking bread.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters talk in an area they use for baking bread.

Fighters pose for a group picture.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters pose for a group picture.

A female fighter writes notes as she sits in a security position near a base.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A female fighter writes notes as she sits in a security position near a base.

Fighters prepare to join others near a position which has been hit by Islamic State car bombs.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters prepare to join others near a position which has been hit by Islamic State car bombs.

A female fighter waits for a drone to land.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A female fighter waits for a drone to land.

A female fighter holds a turkey which had escaped.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

A female fighter holds a turkey which had escaped.

Fighters leave their base.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Fighters leave their base.

Damaged cars lie at the side of a road leading to Mount Sinjar.
. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih

Damaged cars lie at the side of a road leading to Mount Sinjar.

. SINJAR, IRAQ. REUTERS/Asmaa Waguih
Tents where displaced Yazidi families live are pitched near Sinjar.