CANADA MILITARY NEWS: KURDS fight as bravely as AFGHANS 4 their daughters and sons and their very freedoms, culture and a future of education and prosperity #1BRising /14 most beautiful places in Middle East- we must save humanity and cultures /Videos of 1900s Kurdish Music/ Beautiful Afghan Rubab- culture and music of the real Afghanistan
NOVA SCOTIA CANADA- so proud of the Kurdish women and Men just as we are of Afghanistan - the courage and bravery..... is so real, raw and righteous....... u make us all so proud.... that dirt.... that earth... those rocks ... the people are God's beloved ..... and in war women fight beside their men ....
Kurdish troops make gains in Syria
BASSEM MROUE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIRUT — In contrast to the Iraqi army’s failures, Kurdish fighters in Syria
are on the march against the Islamic State group, capturing towns and villages
in an oil-rich swath of the country’s northeast under the cover of U.S.-led
airstrikes.
As the Kurds close in on Tel Abyad, a major commercial centre on the Turkish
border, their advance highlights the decisive importance of combining
airstrikes with the presence of a cohesive and motivated ally on the ground —
so clearly absent in Iraq.
In Syria, a country now split mostly between al-Qaida-style militants and
forces loyal to President Bashar Assad, the U.S. has found a reliable partner
in the country’s main Kurdish fighting force, known as the YPG. They are
moderate, mostly secular fighters, driven by revolutionary fervour and deep
conviction in their cause.
Since the beginning of May, they have wrested back more than 200 Kurdish and
Christian towns in northeastern Syria, as well as strategic mountains seized
earlier by IS. Along the way, they have picked up ammunition, weapons and
vehicles left behind by Islamic State fighters.
The push has gotten them closer to Tel Abyad, a major avenue for commerce for
the extremist group through which it smuggles foreign fighters and sells
blackmarket oil to help fund its conquests. The city is also a key link between
Turkey and the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, the Islamic State group’s
de-facto capital in its self-declared caliphate.
“The YPG doesn’t lack a will to fight, like soldiers in the Syrian army, or
soldiers in the Iraqi army who mostly fight for a salary," said Wladimir
van Wilgenburg, a Middle East analyst at the Jamestown Foundation in
Washington. “The YPG is much more motivated than other forces in the region,
and doesn’t lack cohesion and doesn’t have co-ordination problems."
“The YPG is quite ideological, while the Syrian and Iraqi army aren’t very well
motivated," van Wilgenburg added.
The Iraqi military has struggled to make gains after its humiliating defeats
last year, when it virtually crumbled in the face of the militant onslaught in
northern Iraq. Poor training, corruption and sectarian politics have all been
cited as reasons for the military’s shortcomings. The U.S. spent billions of
dollars training Iraqi forces from 2003 to 2011, but much of that training did
not reach the foot soldiers battling the Islamic State group today.
Last week, U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter criticized the Iraqi army
following the fall of Ramadi, the strategic capital of the country’s largest
Sunni province of Anbar, saying the Iraqi military lacked the “will to
fight."
Within days, IS fighters had also dealt a major blow to Assad’s forces in
Syria, seizing the historic city of Palmyra, a major crossroads linking the
capital, Damascus, with territory to the east and west. In images reminiscent
of the Iraqi defeat in Ramadi, Syrian soldiers fled the city, leaving behind
tanks and ammunition.
By contrast, Syria’s Kurds have shown remarkable cohesiveness. Spurred by
ideology and nationalistic fervour, they fought ferociously to claw back
territory.
Kurdish female fighters carry their weapons as they walk in the frontline of
Kery Sabee village, northeast Syria. AP
----------------
Kurdish women fighters wage war on Islamic State in Iraq [Photo report]
Reuters photographer Asmaa Waguih spent time with women fighters at a Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) military base on Mount Sinjar in northwest Iraq.
A female Kurdistan Workers Party fighter stands guard at a PKK base on Mount Sinjar in northwest Iraq(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)
Islamic State (Isis) 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.
Ever since the Islamic State took over Mount Sinjar and declared its
cross-border caliphate last year, many Yazidis have joined forces with
PKK fighters and Kurdish peshmerga fighters from Iraq to fight Islamic
State and free the rest of Sinjar.
Male and women fighters work together, side by side, though they live
separately. Most are aged between 18 and 25. Relationships are
forbidden; male and females alike choose to sacrifice their personal
lives for the cause they believe in.
A
female fighter waits for a drone to land at the PKK base in Sinjar,
after it had gone to check enemy positions near a site that had been hit
by two Islamic State car bombs(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)Female PKK fighters discuss how to reach a position that had been hit by Islamic State car bombs in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)PKK
fighters adjust a machine gun as they prepare to join others near a
position which had been hit by Islamic State car bombs in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)Kurdistan Workers Party fighters prepare to join others near a position that was hit by Islamic State car bombs in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)Kurdistan Workers Party fighters look towards a position that was hit by Islamic State car bombs in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)
Photographer Asmaa Waguih says: "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.
"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.
"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."
Female Kurdistan Workers Party fighters pose for a picture with a displaced Yazidi woman (R) who lives near the base in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)A female Kurdish fighter takes a photo of others visiting from another base(Asmaa Waguih/Reuters)Female PKK fighters chat around a heater at a base in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)Haval Raperin, a leader of a group of Kurdistan Workers Party fighters, combs her hair at a base in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)Kurdish
women fighters sit with a Yazidi family, including a member of YBS, a
Yazidi militant group who are also fighting against Islamic State(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)
Women fighters are thought to make up around one-third of all Kurdish resistance.
In the political doctrine of the imprisoned leader of the PKK,
Abdullah Ocalan, women and men play an equal role in society and no
society can be free without the freedom of women.
A female PKK fighter carries a picture of jailed Kurdish militant leader Abdullah Ocalan at their base in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)A
displaced Yazidi woman sleeps in a room at a base for female PKK
fighters in Sinjar, under pictures of jailed Kurdish militant leader
Abdullah Ocalan, a Yazidi shrine and PKK fighters who died in comat(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)A female PKK fighter works on her laptop while watching a Kurdish TV station at a base in the Sinjar mountains(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)A female Kurdish fighter writes notes as she sits at a checkpoint near a base in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)The
mother of a Yazidi fighter killed during fighting with Islamic State
militants mourns with relatives over his body during a funeral ceremony
at a cemetery in Sinjar(Asmaa Waguih /Reuters)
The female Kurdish fighters are feared by Islamic State militants,
who believe that they'll go straight to hell if they are killed by a
woman.
LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL MIDDLE EAST- we must go back 2 humanity..... and beauty, culture, and all that makes us unique treasures in God's eyes....
The 14 Most Beautiful Places in the Middle East
Spanning the coast of Israel to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, the Middle East
is filled with some of the most extraordinary landscapes and cities in
the world. From awe-inspiring natural phenomenon to exquisite historic
sites reflecting each country's heritage and culture, we list 14 of the
most beautiful places in the Middle East.
Bordered
by Jordan, Palestine and Israel, The Dead Sea is in fact a saltwater
lake, known for being one of the world's most saline bodies of water, as
well as one of its most stunning. Thanks to its high salt content, The
Dead Sea's shores are filled with extraordinarily striking salt deposits
and mineral formations, which beautifully contrast with its soft sands
and the clear tranquillity of its water.
Located
on Haram Al-Sharif in the heart of Jerusalem, The Dome of the Rock is
one of the world's holiest sites and a stunning example of Islamic
architecture. Built in the 7th century, the shrine features an octagonal
structure, a magnificent golden dome and stunning tile work inspired by
the Byzantine style. Inside the Dome is the Foundation Stone, a holy
artefact of immense importance to those of both Muslim and Jewish
faiths.
On a mound raised about 30 meters above the rest of the city lies Erbil Citadel, the ancient center of the Iraqi
city of Erbil, and the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the
world. The houses along the exterior of the citadel form a fort-like
structure, while the interior is filled with narrow alleys, archways and
intricate brickwork. Erbil Citadel was added to the UNESCO list of
World Heritage Sites in 2014, recognizing its immense cultural and
historic significance.
Located in modern day Saudi Arabia,
Hegra was one of the largest cities in the Nabatean Kingdom, second
only to Petra in Jordan. The city was built in the 1st century AD, and
originally consisted of a residential area and a necropolis. Of these
131 colossal, astonishingly detailed tombs remain, cut into the rock
faces. Hegra was considered for a long time to be cursed and was avoided
by locals and travelers, leading to its extraordinary preservation.
Jeita Grotto consists of two interconnected limestone caves located in the Nahr al-Kalb valley in Lebanon;
the upper grotto, which is accessible by walking, and the lower grotto,
which is viewed from a rowboat on a lake winding through the cave. Both
grottos feature awe-inspiring natural creations, including stalactites
and stalagmites, mushrooms, columns and curtains. The glittering water,
multi-colored rocks and dramatic formations create an ethereal,
otherworldly atmosphere rarely experienced elsewhere.
One
of the Middle East's most unique landscapes, Khor al-Udaid features an
extraordinary juxtaposition of desert and sea on the Qatari coast of the
Persian Gulf. By day the sea smoothly draws up amongst the soft white
sand dunes, creating a beautifully clear and still inland sea, before
retreating again at night. During sunsets, the landscape becomes all the
more glorious, reflecting a myriad of rich colors on the sparkling
sands and waters.
Often
called the world's greatest outdoor museum, Egypt's Luxor overflows
with beautiful ruins, mosques and temples, which come together to make
the city one of the most extraordinary in the Middle East. The Karnak
Temple features iconic rows of sandstone columns and wonderfully
preserved friezes, while over 50 tombs lie in the dramatic Valley of the
Kings, including the stunning tomb of Tutankhamen, surrounding visitors
with glimpses into Egypt's rich cultural past.
Separated from the rest of Oman
by the UAE, the Musandam Fjords located on the Strait of Hormuz
incorporate the dramatic scenery of the famous Norwegian fjords with the
natural beauty of the Arabian Peninsula. Ragged, rocky mountains
descend to the water in sheer cliff faces, with tiny coastal villages
interspersed among the crags. Although the mountain scenery is quite
sparse, the water teems with wildlife, making it one of the best places
for scuba diving in the area.
Also known as the Pink Mosque, the Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Shiraz, Iran
has become famous for its intricate tile work and extraordinary use of
colored glass in its windows, making it one of the most striking houses
of worship in the world. As the early morning sunlight streams in
through the windows, it casts extraordinary pools of jewel-bright color
over the tiles and Persian carpets, creating a never-before-seen
patchwork of patterns, light and color.
Known
as the rose-red city for the vibrant color of its sandstone, Petra is
one of the world's most famous archaeological sites and was named one of
the Wonders of the World by the New7Wonders Foundation. The capital of
the Nabatean Kingdom, Petra was an important trade and cultural center
for several centuries before being largely abandoned. Although much of
the city has been destroyed, the numerous tombs, temples and streets
which remain are indescribably beautiful.
The
monumental Shah Square in Isfahan, Iran is one of the largest and most
impressive squares in the world. Constructed in the early 17th century
and featuring buildings from the country's Safavid era, the square
brings together some of Isfahan's most beautiful and culturally
important sites, with the stunning Shah Mosque, the Sheikh Lotf Allah
Mosque, the regal Ali Qapu Palace and the bustling Isfahan Grand Bazaar
forming the square's four sides.
The
Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi is a marvel of contemporary Islamic
architecture. Inspired by Arab, Moorish and Persian design, the mosque
sets itself apart from its predecessors thanks to its vast size, built
to accommodate over 40,000 worshippers, its pure white exterior
dazzlingly reflected in pools of water, and the spectacular richness of
its interior, with marble columns inlaid with mother of pearl, Swarowski
crystal chandeliers and beautifully woven Persian carpets.
Lying
midway between the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the
Socotra Archipelago is a collection of four small islands belonging to
Yemen, and features some of the world's most stunning landscapes. Due to
its isolated nature, a third of the plant life is unique to the island,
including the striking dragon blood tree and large exotic coral reefs,
while undisturbed beaches and crystal clear waters make the islands a
tropical paradise.
Situated
in the dramatic Farafra depression in Western Egypt, the White Desert
is astoundingly beautiful, featuring miles upon miles of unusual,
otherworldly rock formations formed millions of years ago when the
surface of the desert was covered in a layer of chalk. Today they teeter
above the soft sand, punctuating the otherwise typical landscape with
their dramatic forms. The White Desert is particularly spectacular at
night time, when the moonlight and stars lend it an ethereal glow. By Anahit Behrooz Anahit Behrooz is a 23-year-old literature graduate from Oxford
and St Andrews, obsessed with Hitchcock, lace dresses, Alice in
Wonderland, and finding the art in life's littlest moments. She
currently divides her time between writing, preparing for her PhD, and
finding the perfect burger restaurant.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.
Syria: Kurdish Fighters Win Back 220 Villages, Towns from ISIL in Hasaka
Fars News Agency 09:36 Thu, 28 May 2015
Apparent confirmation Brisbane man has joined Kurdish fighters
Brisbane Times 22:03 Wed, 27 May 2015
Isis in Syria: The Kurdish enclave still resisting the tyranny of President...
The Independent 13:34 Wed, 27 May 2015
Kurdish fighters expel Islamic State from part of north-east Syria
DPA International 07:53 Wed, 27 May 2015
EXCLUSIVE: American Peshmerga volunteers praise Kurdish fighters, vow to defeat ISIS
Rudaw 14:13 Tue, 19 May 2015
Canadian soldier's death likely due to Kurdish fighters' fatigue, general says
CBC.ca 18:39 Sun, 03 May 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.