More women joining Syrian army’s fight against ISIL

World Today

Women in Syria are joining their country’s military to help defending their land against ISIL. CCTV America’s Alaa Ebrahim reported this story from Damascus.

In Hasakeh province in northeast Syria, women are manning checkpoints in this remote area near Turkey and Iraq.

“We are assigned to maintain order within the city. Some of our sisters are on the front lines but here we make sure that the good fighters are sent where needed and not wasted on checkpoints,” said one female fighter named Nelofer.

The Syrian army started introducing women into its ranks since the late 1980s, for medical and technical services in addition to logistics and administration. But today, the army sends women into combat.

What started as a social experiment 20 years ago has now become a necessity that has come at a great cost after the army lost more than 12 female officers and soldiers in the past year alone.

The training at this military academy for women upholds the same standards applied for male soldiers. One of the graduates, a sniper, received a mention for outstanding performance facing rebels in Darrya, near Damascus, in August.

The cadets of the women’s military academy proudly display their stripes and badges. They are under no illusion that this is not an easy time to be at war or to be women.