Special forces with the YPG Kurds

Special forces work as "Force Multipliers", meaning they develop indigenous forces to have an additional factor in combat power. This image was taken after an airdrop against a dam in the operations against the Islamic State in the area around Syrian Raqqa. It shows Kurdish special forces, clearly trained and equipped by Americans. This includes the fact that these special forces are equipped with the previous generation of US night vision goggles (PVS7 and PVS14) and American M4A1 rifles (with EOTech and G33 Magnifiers), instead of the Kalashnikovs which Kurds typically use. The local SOF, however, wear the uniform of the Syrian Kurdish militia YPG and their badges. Whether the man with the pixelated face is an American trainer who accompanies his troops on the mission is uncertain. We can imagine what the Turkish neighbors in the region think about the combat effectiveness of the Kurdish YPG militia - which is considered a regional affiliate of the PKK fighting in Turkey - enhanced by the Americans.

YPG Rojava online: www.ypgrojava.org