Fighting ISIS: On The Frontline WIth The Soldiers Of The Peshmerga

By Amanda Stringfellow @amanda_l_s

THESE behind-the-scenes images give a rare insight into life on the frontline in the battle against ISIS

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A member of the Peshmarga ducks to avoid sniper fire after exchanges between Peshmerga and ISIS fighters

Photographer Younes Mohammad spent three days with soldiers from the Kurdish Peshmerga at their base in Sinjar, Iraq.

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A Peshmerga fighter grabs a cat nap after a dust storm

The risk of sniper fire is so high that Peshmerga are forced to use a mirror to perform reconnaissance on enemy positions.

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Peshmerga soldiers take a break from fighting to pray and sleep

Younes said: “Normally IS attack the Peshmerga two or three times a day, but sometimes it is only once.

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The soldiers are forced to live in rudimentary conditions on the frontline
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Peshmerga troops use a mirror to watch ISIS movements from inside a fortified room

"Peshmarga watch IS movements with a mirror, they can not look over the defences because of sniper fire."

 

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Smoke billows into the air as a Peshmarga returns fire following gunfire from Islamic State positions

ISIS reached Sinjar in August 2014, massacring thousands of Yazidis before US airstrikes enabled the evacuation of an estimated 50,000 men and women from Mount Sinjar.

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A Peshmerga fires a machine gun at IS positions who have just fired an RPG7 at the base
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A Peshmerga soldier watches ISIS troops through his binoculars

The Peshmerga now hold only 10% of the town and are ambushed daily by ISIS fighters attempting to move through the settlement to the north.

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Plumes of smoke rise high into the air following Coalition airstrikes on ISIS positions

However, despite their territorial disadvantage, the Peshmerga fighters are able to use their fortified base to identify ISIS positions to be taken out by Coalition airstrikes.

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A Peshmerga fires a German anti-tank missile after ISIS attack their base with a tank

Younes added: "On Sinjar mountain even after a year has passed we can still see people`s cars that have run away from the town and were not successful.

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The name "Peshmerga" means literally 'one who confronts death'

“Hundreds of civilians still live in the northern part of the city protected by the Peshmerga as IS have taken over the rest of the town.

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The Peshmerga now hold only 10% of the town and are ambushed daily by ISIS fighters attempting to move through the settlement to the north

“The Peshmerga forces let their command centre know where IS bases are located so that they can plan Coalition airstrikes in the area.”