British woman who sided with YPG killed in Syria’s Afrin

AFRIN

A British woman who sided with the Syrian Kurdish Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), the all-female armed unit of the People’s Protection Units (YPG), has been killed in Syria’s Afrin during “Operation Olive Branch,” the Turkish military’s ongoing operation to remove YPG militants from the northwestern Syrian town.

Anna Campbell’s death was confirmed by her father.

Campbell, 26, from Lewes in East Sussex, died on March 15 in Afrin, which has been encircled by Turkish forces.

Campbell, who was a qualified plumber in the U.K., travelled to Syria in May 2017 to join the YPG.

British police have repeatedly warned against travelling to Syria, and have advised that becoming involved with any armed group could lead to arrest and prosecution.

Campbell is one of the many foreign fighters who joined the military ranks of the YPG.

In February, an Icelandic citizen fighting for the YPG was killed in Afrin, Turkish broadcaster CNN Türk had reported.

Haukur Hilmarsson, 32, was killed on Feb. 24, and his body will reportedly be sent back to his country soon.