For the Media and Public Opinion – April 28, 2015

ROJAVA, Kobanê – The resistance to the occupation attempts of Daesh (ISIS) terrorists around the city of Kobanê continued April 27 on the 225th day.

In East Kobanê, terrorist groups last night attempted for an attack against our forces’ positions. Highly alerted on the frontlines, our Units carried out a counter-assault against a unit of the attackers which tried to occupy the village of Seferiyê on the road to Rutkê; minor clashes were experienced in the area after our forces’ intervention. As a result of these clashes 2 terrorist members were captured alive, along with their weapons and ammunition; other attackers were forces to flee the arena.

CIZÎRÊ, Til Temir – Fighting between our forces and Daesh terrorists, happening on the western borders of Canton Cizîrê, are continuing nonstop ... Tovább »

Rudaw – The American public has come to know Jordan Matson as a prominent foreign volunteer fighting alongside Kurdish forces in Rojava, the Kurdish word for a part of eastern Syria inhabited by ethnic Kurds.

The 28-year-old from Wisconsin is an ex-US Army soldier who has been fighting for the militia known as the Kurdish Protection Units, or YPG, since September.

Matson spoke with Rudaw on April 21.

Rudaw: Tell us about your military service in the US army, your normal lifeyou’re your activities before joining the YPG.

Jordan Matson: My name is Jordan Matson. I was airborne infantry in the United States Army for three years. I did not deploy. I worked third shift in a food distribution center before I came here. ... Tovább »

Álarcos katonák, puskalövés nélkül elcsatolt területek, új hadviselési forma - nyilván mindenki hallotta már ezeket, aki húsz percnél többet foglalkozott az ukrajnai konfliktussal. Pedig a katonai szolgáltató cégek, a PMC-k (private military contractor) szolgáltatásai már vagy egy évtizede elérhetők, és egyre több ország használja is őket. A PMC-k fokozatosan tehermentesítik a megbízó országok reguláris hadseregét, és egyre nő az arányuk hozzájuk képest.

Márciusban azonosítók nélküli, maszkot viselő, oroszul beszélő fegyveresek tűntek föl Ukrajnában, és rövid idő alatt teljesen átvették az uralmat a Krím-félsziget fölött. A katonák valószínűleg nem az orosz hadsereghez tartoznak; a szakértők szerint a Vnyevedomsztvenaja Ohrana (VO) emberei lehetnek. A katonai szervezet elvileg privát biztonsági cég, de igen szoros kapcsolatokat ápolnak az orosz ... Tovább »

The Peshmerga have made remote-controlled German anti-tank rockets their weapon of choice in neutralizing Islamic State suicide bombers, and one of Berlin’s top defense officials was in Erbil this week to ensure more rockets were on the way.

Markus Grübel, the German state secretary of defense, told Peshmerga soldiers Saturday Germany is sending the Iraqi Kurdish forces 500 more MILAN anti-tank rockets and 30 rocket launchers. He said Berlin would also be sending more panzerfaust rockets, G-3 and G-36 assault rifles and ammunition. Grübel was visiting Kurdistan to observe German military instructors training Peshmerga in urban warfare techniques.

As the war against the so-called Islamic State grinds on, suicide bombings have become a favored tactic by ISIS and the MILAN rocket launcher is the bes ... Tovább »

Neryl Joyce worked in Iraq from 2004 to 2006 — says her “self-belief, courage and a never-say-die attitude” took her from working at Woolworths to becoming a Baghdad bodyguard, but also almost got her killed.

Working for two of the most powerful security companies in Baghdad, Joyce — who had served as a commissioned officer in the Australian Army’s close personal protection unit — was responsible for protecting high-threat targets from assassination and opportune attack in the lead up to, and following, Iraq’s first democratic election since 1953.

“Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to be Wonder Woman or Luke Skywalker or someone who protects others or saves the world,” she said. “When I heard about (private security work) I was instantly attracted to it because I wanted to do something that was about more than just me.

According to the New York Time, Erik Prince billionaire founder of Blackwater was hired by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi to put together an 800-member battalion of foreign troops for the U.A.E., according to former employees on the project, American officials and corporate documents obtained by a reputable source.

The force is intended to conduct special operations missions inside and outside the country, defend oil pipelines and skyscrapers from terrorist attacks and put down internal revolts, the documents show. Such troops could be deployed if the Emirates faced unrest in their crowded labor camps or were challenged by pro-democracy protests like those sweeping the Arab world this year.

The U.A.E.’s rulers, viewing their own military as inadequate, also hope that the troops could blunt the regional aggression of ... Tovább »

A Melbourne father of two who went to fight against Islamic State has returned home after breaking Australia's newest terror law.

George Khamis is an Iraqi-born call-centre operator from Melbourne.

He joined an Assyrian militia called Dwekh Nawsha, which translates as "self sacrificers" and was stationed just two kilometres from IS –held town Batnaya.

The Australian government has recently passed a new terror law that criminalises Australians travelling to fight for, or against, Islamic State. It is a crime punishable by life in prison.In August last year Islamic State ransacked the town of Baqofa but were forced back —the Dwek Nawsha is stationed there to hold the line against the rebels.

"Basically I’m ... Tovább »

So you’re getting out of the military soon, or separated recently and you thought you would jump into the world of private contracting.  The pay is lucrative, the brotherhood you miss from military life is there, and you like to travel – so why not?  Whether it’s the glamorous world of high threat mobile security or just the logistics job on a FOB overseas, there are a few things you should know before going into the game.

First and foremost, you need to discuss this with your spouse/significant other/kids/cat/etc… before deciding on this. If you’re single and don’t like women, then you can skip this part. Working overseas is tough on family life, especially kids and marriages/relationships.  If you thought yearlong deployments were tough while in the military, now add in coming home for a few weeks every 3-6 months and trying to fit back into ... Tovább »

A Royal Marine who became the first Briton to be killed while fighting against ISIS was laid to rest today (Thursday) as hundreds of Kurdish mourners gathered to pay their respects
Mr Scurfield's body was flown to Manchester last week because the People’s Protection Unit (YPG), who he was fighting alongside, has a large base in the city.
His coffin was given a hero's welcome as he passed while mourners, many in tears, paid tribute to the ex-marine - known as Kosta to his comrades - and threw flowers at his coffin as it passed. 
There were shouts of 'martyr' and 'hero' from the crowd, many of whom carried his picture.
His mother Vasliki said she was proud of the her son for standing up ... Tovább »

In November 2009, the Accuracy International L115A3 sniper rifle was the weapon used in the most prodigious feat of marksmanship in military history – two consecutive confirmed kills at 2.47 kilometers were followed by a third shot which disabled the (much smaller) machine gun the two combatants had been carrying. Shortly after that, a British sniper in Afghanistan has reportedly killed six insurgents with one bullet from a distance of 850 m (930 yards) using the L115A3.

During December 2013, The Telegraph reported about a British sniper in the Coldstream Guards, who killed six Taliban with one bullet during a gun battle with 15-20 Taliban in Kakaran in southern Afghanistan.

The initial target is believed to have been wearing an suicide vest packed with explosives which was to be used in a suicide bomber attack, and the bullet caused the vest to explode, killing five Taliban in the near vicinity. Another unexploded suicide vest was found nearby, indic ... Tovább »