IN PICTURES: The foreign fighters taking on the Islamic State

Three British volunteers, a former Tory council member, an IT worker, and an ex-soldier-turned activist share a joke during a lull in the fighting (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Hevals 'Agid' (left) and 'Cudi' (right), former US and British military respectively, exchange tactical points over house-clearing drills for the upcoming assault. Whilst many in the YPG are experienced mountain guerrilla fighters, conventional urban warfare is forcing them to learn new skills in order to force the initiative from ISIS (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Western volunteers practice assault drills before an upcoming offensive. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Heval 'Barkhudan' grew up in Lebanon and left his wife and family to join the YPG and help defend Kurdistan against the ISIS threat. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Heval 'Zinar', a 67 year old Canadian volunteer shares some images from home on a laptop with his Kurdish comrades. Although significantly older than most of those fighting in the YPG, Zinar maintains that he is as fit as he's ever been. Despite his lack of prior military experience, he says years of training as a martial artist has given him a unique 'fighting spirit'. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

A kurdish fighter shows off his patriotic tattoo. The idea of a future Kurdish nation runs deep through the hearts of those fighting here, though many accept their dream is still a long way off from realisation (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Graffiti in a village occupied by Kurdish forces reads - "Kurdistan will become the graveyard of ISIS, and let all the world know this." (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Heval 'Dilsoz', from Germany points to ISIS positions on a map. He's been with the YPG for three years now and speaks fluent Kurdish. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

A half-finished book on a Western fighter's bedspace hints at the idealism of some of the volunteers. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

A Kurdish fighter displays his tattoo of the leader of the PKK - Abdullah Öcalan. Öcalan is currently imprisoned in Turkey, but it is still hard to go anywhere in Syrian Kurdistan without seeing his image on posters, bumber stickers, and flags. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Former US paratrooper, heval 'Kamal' enjoys a last cigarette before a dawn attack on an ISIS-held village. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Kamal has been in Syria for over six months now and is one of the few that has truly integrated with the Kurds. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Heval 'Agid', a former US Marine Corps sniper, takes up a fire position near an ISIS-held village. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Two Western fighters make a dash for cover under incoming ISIS sniper fire from a nearby settlement. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

A Kurdish fighter, fresh from the front, calls a doctor for assistance in a field hospital. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

Heval 'Shiyar', a British volunteer recovers in a field hospital after taking shrapnel from a rocket which hit his vehicle during an assault. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)

A picture of killed Australian volunteer Ashley Johnston hangs from a street lamp as a memorial near the Kurdish town of Qamishli. (MEE/Michael McEvoy)