Fighters from all around the world are part of the Internationalist Unit of the YPG and are engaged in the battle to liberate Raqqa. The internationalist YPG fighters stated that they have come together from many different countries worldwide and are endeavouring one common goal. The fighters of the Internationalist Freedom Battalion stressed that until Raqqa gets liberated for good and Raqqa's population obtains a free life, they will keep on fighting.

Fighters of the internationalist unit of the YPG, who are taking active part in the attack units at the front lines, as well as in the defence units in the rear, answered ANF’s questions.

Mostly which countries do the YPG fighters of the Internationalist Freedom Battalion come from?

Robin Şoreş: I am from America. We got people from Finland, Spain, Italy, Scotland, Britain, France. Many other countries from all around the world.

When was the Internationalist Freedom Battalion of the YPG founded and what are its tasks?

Marcello: The internationalist unit of the YPG was established in December 2016. And we took part in the operation to liberate Sinjar. After that we joined the Tabqa operation. The YPG gave us the honour to represent the YPG Internationalist fighters, so we changed our name to 'YPG Internationalist Battalion’. And that is our official name. Now we are taking part in the liberation of Raqqa.

What are the goals and motivations of the YPG Internationalist Battalion?

Olissa: Fighters from different backgrounds have come together with the same purpose: destroy ISIS and destroy this kind of oppression. Our greatest motivation is that people from different countries are struggling for this goal.

In what position are you in the Raqqa Operation?

Divar Alba: We are here taking part in operations. We are one of the leading attack units, who are dealing the first blows to the ISIS gangs. In the Battle of Raqqa our main objective and our daily position is to play active roles in the attack units.

What is the difference between the YPG Internationalist Battalion and the western fighters within the YPG?

Cesur Bakur: We, the fighters of the YPG Internationalist Battalion are part of and act within the same unit. We are all stationed at the same areas. But our other western comrades are positioned in a common unit maximum two at the same time. The prime difference between us within the YPG is this.

Following Raqqa's liberation, how do the plans of the YPG Internationalist Battalion look like? At which field will you be active?

Şersan Tuço: We are a unit of the YPG. Whatever the YPG wants us to do and wherever, we will do without question. Where the YPG is, there will we also be.

You said you are part of the attack group. Is there a memory that you have as a unit in the Raqqa operation, that you would like to share with us?

Marcello: One night we were in the offense operation and entered ISIS territory, providing a YPG unit with cover from behind. The unit under our protection was ambushed by ISIS. We had many seriously injured fighters, and also martyrs. We had some medics with us, our medics took care of them. They cured and saved the life of one very seriously injured fighter. And also we went forward to meet the ISIS unit that ambushed our comrades and we destroyed them. We will never forget this memory.

Do you as the YPG Internationalist Battalion get some special sort of training?

Dogan Duşaşinani: We have our own training program, that focuses on all the aspects of warfare, offense and sabotage. Following the YPG training cycle, we add our own training program that lasts some more weeks and get prepared to join the operations.

What message do you want to give the world from Raqqa's front lines?

Arya Şervan: It might take a long time or short, no matter how long it takes. We will achieve our main objective of capturing Raqqa. And we vow to announce the defeat of ISIS and our victory from the centre heart of Raqqa to the whole world.

Divar Alba: Every night we are going out on dangerous operations, every night we are achieving our objective. To liberate Raqqa we will do all we can. Everyone shall know that we do here what is needed to be done.

Marcello: There are many terrorist attacks of ISIS in the western countries. But now we are a group of young Europeans, young Americans who decided to take a great danger to support the democratic revolution, to destroy the menace of ISIS and those extremist radical fanatic Islamist groups. To give the people here in Raqqa, in Syria, to the people back home the chance for peace. And it is a great danger that we are here taking every night. And my message for the people and world public would be, don't stop watching.

Olissa: We are all here as volunteers, we are here because we believe that we have to defeat this enemy. This is our aim. And not their militia only, but their mentality. So it is not all fighting here, it is a fight for the entire humanity. This is very clear when you think here are internationalists, Kurds, Arabs, all fighting together. The message is easy: we are here because we think it is important to be here for everyone, not just for us or the people living around here. We fight for all peoples.

Cesur Bakur: Raqqa will be liberated, but what comes from here on is important. The YPG will not abandon the Raqqa population. The YPG is a force that promises stability to this region. So even after Raqqa, the western peoples will continue their support for the YPG. We will side with all peoples, who seek freedom and fight for them. So that groups like ISIS do not rise again in these regions.

Şersan Tuço: My message to my fellow countrymen in Finland and the rest of the people in Europe: I ask them to open up their support, whatever way they can. Be it small or big. And they shall follow up this struggle. We are fighting here against ISIS for whole humanity. And we will definitively win. For victory we are giving it all.