Baladi News
Day after day, the media presence of the Kurdish "People and Women's Protection Units" that mainly constitute "Syria's Democratic Forces", increases to the extent that this Kurdish militia has been shown by western countries as the strongest and the only faithful party for fighting terrorism. This can be deduced from relying on it as the main force in the anticipated battle of Al-Raqqa against ISIS and openly adopting it by the USA despite the fact that such adaptation could jeopardize its relations with Turkey"
The Origins
An anonymous fıeld commander in the Free Syrian Army said to Baladi News Network, "At the time the Islamic State took control over Kobani, the units' militants amounted to approximately 300 lightly armed fighters. They were insignificant with low popularity. However, the USA wanted them to grow with the first step being threatening the rebels' factions with stopping its support for them unless they participate in Kobani battle against ISIS".
The commander emphasized that the USA found these units as "its perfect agent. So, it worked on turning them from a group listed among terrorist organization into a secular power that fights terrorism alone, considering them a victim of historical injustice, the same way the Jewish were oppressed by the Nazis."
Media Exaggeration
It is unknown for sure how many members are affiliated with the Kurdish People Protection Units. However, It is estimated that they amount to dozens thousands by some sources, meanwhile other sources, such as Wikipedia, refer to nearly 70 thousands, although they were only 300 less than three years ago.
After examining reports and witnesses, Baladi News could attribute the huge increase in the number of the militants of these units to the recruitment of female and male minors and sending them to battles. Another reason is the enactment of compulsory recruitment act in imitation of the Assad's regime. However, the most factors in this regard is the US support for these units to show them as the only legitimate power for fighting terrorism.
Female minors kidnap
The Kurdish People's Protection Units Militia is divided into two groups, YPK for males and YPJ for female minors. Many of these females were kidnapped and forced to join the units.
Activists documented the witness of "Norman Khalifa", a 13 years old girl who was kidnapped in 2013 by PYD party, but she was able to escape and reach a safe haven in Europe. In her witness, Norman said, "teachers encouraged us to attend the military units meetings. When I decided to attend one of these meetings out of curiosity, I found myself into a locked car. I started crying, but a soldier hit my head with the back of his gun and I fainted. Then I was taken to a secret training camp in Al-Malikiyah, where I was trained to use the machine gun."
Norman tried to escape twice, but she failed and was returned to the camp. She indicated that the party warned them from the bad consequences of attempting to escape saying, "We were 140 people, including 16 young girls, who failed to escape. They took us to the yard to show us the execution of a girl, known by the name Britan Tolhedan, who tried to escape 8 times. They said to her that she is not worth more than the price of a bullet, and then shot her in the head and threw her body in the river."