American fighting with Kurds killed in Islamic State battle
Source: AP
IRBIL, Iraq (AP) — An American fighting with Kurdish forces against the Islamic State group in Syria has been killed in battle, authorities said Wednesday, making him likely the first U.S. citizen to die fighting alongside them against the extremists.
Keith Broomfield, who was from Massachusetts, died June 3 in a battle in a Syrian village named Qentere, near the border town Kobani, said Nasser Haji, an official with a group of Kurdish fighters known as the YPG. Broomfield had joined the YPG on Feb. 24 under the nom de guerre Gelhat Raman, said Haji, who didn't elaborate on the circumstances of his death.
U.S. Department of State spokesman Jeff Rathke confirmed Broomfield's death but declined to provide any details about the circumstances. He said the U.S. was providing consular assistance to his family.
A man who answered the door at a home in Bolton, Massachusetts, listed as owned by Broomfield's family said the family would not be commenting. No one answered the door at a family-operated business, Broomfield Laboratories, in the town.
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Broomfield's mother Donna said: 'He decided this was God's will and God wanted him to go. I didn't want him to but I didn't have a choice in the matter'
The People’s Protection Unit (YPG for short) created a foreign brigade called the Lions of Rojava to allow volunteers from around the world to join the Kurdish militia in their fight against ISIS.
Those who put themselves forward are given a Kurdish nom de guerre when they join and Broomfield's was Gelhat Rûmet.
On the Lions of Rojava Facebook page, he was described as a 'brave American warrior [who] came to Kobane because he could not lean back and watch the atrocities which were committed by ISIS...'
'Keith’s generosity could be seen in his visits to the refugee camp of Suruc [Turkish town near the Syrian border] and his desire to help the poor children who are growing up in such a dangerous environment.
'He was a warrior with the courage and the heart of a lion. We want to thank his mother Donna for giving birth and raising such a wonderful son...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3118770/First-volunteer-dies-fighting-ISIS-alongside-Kurdish-militia-artillery-exchange-Syria.html
At the link are the stories of other men from the UK, Australia and Germany who joined the Kurds and were killed fighting ISIS.