Australian Jamie Bright killed fighting Islamic State
An Australian man has reportedly been killed while fighting against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria.
Social media accounts belonging to Kurdish military units claim Australian volunteer soldier Jamie Bright died last week in the northern Raqqa countryside.
Mr Bright was fighting with the YPG, the Kurdish People's Protection Unit.
Jamie Bright. Sehid Namerin Heval. You were always all smiles. Rojava is indebted to you. #twitterkurds pic.twitter.com/18aohqvSNF
— Stand With Kurdistan (@StandWKurdistan) May 29, 2016
It is the main armed service of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava.
The YPG is primarily ethnic Kurdish, but it also recruits Arabs, Turks, and Westerners, Wikipedia reports.
Jamie Bright was a great hero&always had the most beautiful smile.He martyred 25th of May near Şedadêpic.twitter.com/BYe0Af2OMs - @AzadiRojava
— ARnews 1936 (@ARnews1936) May 29, 2016
As a guerrilla combat force, the YPG relies on speed, stealth, and surprise.
It relies heavily on snipers and backs them by suppressing enemy fire using mobile heavy machine guns.
Friends it's so sad Australian YPG hero Jamie Bright, Heval Gabar, martyred in the fight against daesh #SehidNamirin pic.twitter.com/VmuhVxIzYK
— Rojava (@AzadiRojava) May 29, 2016
It also uses roadside bombs to prevent outflanking maneuvers, particularly at night.
The YPG and HPG have also trained and equipped more than 1,000 Yazidis, who operate in the Mount Sinjar area as local defense units under their supervision.[4]
The Department of Foreign Affairs said it is unable to confirm his death, but says Australians should not travel to Syria.
In a video posted on Twitter, Mr Bright said he had travelled to the area to help the people.
