Foreigners Heading to Syria to Fight Against IS: Report

There is a growing number of foreigners who are going to Iraq and Syria to fight against Islamic State militants for what they call “humanitarian reasons”.

MOSCOW, January 5 (Sputnik) – An increasing number of foreigners have joined the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, wanting to protect local civilians on the ground from the savagery of the terrorist group, Reuters reported on Monday.

“I want to fight the Islamic State, although it might be the last thing I do. I know I have 10 years to live before I will start to develop dementia or have a stroke, so I wanted to do something good.” – said Peter Douglas, a 66-year old Canadian, who came to fight the IS militants for “humanitarian” reasons, according to Reuters.

It is reported that a few dozen Westerners have joined Kurds fighting the IS in Northern Syria. Foreign recruits include those from the United States, Canada, Germany and Britain.

Foreigners joined #YPG against #ISIS PHOTO: YPG fighters from #America #Britain & #Germany in #Kurdistan.. @CENTCOM pic.twitter.com/VGI73yXu5U

— INDEPEND☮ KURDISTAN (@kurdistanlive) 2 декабря 2014

Many foreign fighters said they decided to join the fight against the IS after seeing what the radicals had done to local populations, as well as captured Westerners, who were decapitated.

“I saw the fear and terror on this child’s eyes, looking directly at me through the camera. I never been moved by anything like that in my life,” said Dean Parker, one of foreign fighters from the United States, as quoted by Reuters.

However, the number of foreigners fighting against the IS is minuscule, when compared to an estimated 16,000 fighters from more than 90 countries, who have joined the radical Sunni group since 2012.

ISIS has executed 100 foreigners trying to quit: report #military http://t.co/l2PEFdIkZh pic.twitter.com/qgu7gc2VEC

— Military Trending (@militarylizer) 22 декабря 2014

Foreign fighters, who have joined the fight against IS, are worried about legal repercussions when they return home. Many of them choose to stay anonymous.