Women in Syrian Kurdish Militia: We'd Rather Kill Ourselves than Surrender

Following are excerpts from a report on the Kurdish militia in Syria, aired on Alaan TV on August 5, 2013.

Reporter: These are the Kurdish parts of northern Syria. Signs of normal life are evident, even in this time of war. The sheep graze in the fields, but on the horizon, a cloud of smoke rises, because fighting has erupted between the Kurdish People's Defense Units, and Jihadi forces, headed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and the Nusra Front.

The fighting rages only five kilometers away, but it does not prevent these children from engaging in soccer, their favorite pastime.

We move on. There are many checkpoints, operated by men and women. I encountered military checkpoints in all the Kurdish towns I passed through. I saw dozens of such checkpoints. They say that their main mission is to search passing vehicles for car bombs.

The People's Defense Units are deployed in the nearby village of Hasnaa. Only a few kilometers separate them from their adversaries. This is one of many battle fronts throughout Syria. I asked their commander why there were fighting.

Commander: True, we are Kurds, but we are also Syrians, and we are defending our region against both the regime and the gangs.

Reporter: This wounded fighter is inspecting his weapon. Another is communicating with his commanders via radio.

Kurdish women fight alongside the men. I asked one of them if she was afraid of fighting, and what she would do in the event that she is captured.

Female fighter: We are just like the men. There is no difference. Girls are better fighters than men.

Reporter: How come?

Female fighter: That's how it is. Girls have strength, but they need to let it out. We will never surrender. We'd rather kill ourselves.

Reporter: I left them signing the praise of their leader and of victory.

This is Jinan Musa, reporting for Alaan TV from Hasnaa, northern Syria.