audio, stills, text and or video: Go to zReportage.com to see more - The YPJ is an all-female military wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party, made up of ethnic Kurds, Arabs and foreign volunteers. Emerging from the Kurdish resistance movement, the group's numbers have grown from a single battalion in 2013, to over 24,000 fighters. Today, the YPJ says it makes up about 40% of the total Kurdish military in the region. The militia were involved and engaged in the Seige of Kobani and offensives against ISIS strongholds in Tabqa and Raqqa. After joining the guerrilla group, women must spend at least a month practicing military tactics and studying political theories from Abdullah Öcalan. The writer and philosopher is famous for his teachings on gender equality, female emancipation and self-defence. The group has been defending the Kurdish-majority city of Afrin from Turkish forces backed by Syrian rebels after they launched an offensive in mid-January. Ankara considers the YPG a terrorist group, an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has led an insurgency in Turkey for decades.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Kurdish and Arabic female fighters who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) stand in formation. In addition to being taught the Ocalan ideology, they have daily training programs.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - A woman soldier who has joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) participates in a military exercise. In addition to being taught the Ocalan ideology, they have daily training programs.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - A woman soldier who has joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) performs a military exercise.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Women soldiers who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) hold hands for support during a training program.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Kurdish and Arabic female soldiers who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) participate in a military drill.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - A woman soldier, who has joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) puts her finger on the trigger of a gun during a military exercise.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - A woman soldier who has joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) displays her gun with a flower and jewelry.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Kurdish and Arab women soldiers who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) participate in a military drill.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Kurdish and Arab women soldiers who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ)sit in the barracks.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - A woman soldier who has joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) performs a military exercise.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Kurdish and Arab women soldiers who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) sit in the living quarters.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
May 30, 2018 - Qamishli, Syria - Kurdish and Arab women soldiers who have joined The 'Peoples Protection Unit' (YPJ) prop their military guns in the living quarters where they live.
© Sebastian Backhaus/NurPhoto via ZUMA Press
