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Former Kurdish Sniper Claims To Have Killed Around 250 ISIS Fighters

Former Kurdish Sniper Claims To Have Killed Around 250 ISIS Fighters

He says that others killed as many as 500 jihadis

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

A former asylum seeker claims to have killed more than 250 ISIS fighters while serving as a sniper with Kurdish forces in Syria.

Azad Cudi fled his native Iran - ironically to escape military service - to the UK and in 2013 joined up with the YPG army, a mixed male and female volunteer force committed to liberating Syria from the jihadi forces.

During the battle to regain control of the city of Kobani, Cudi claims that he - and many others - chalked up hundreds of kills as a sniper. The 35-year-old was eventually seriously injured in a rocket blast and has returned to his home in the north of the UK.

He has since written a book called Long Shot in which he talks about his experiences in the war against ISIS.

Azad Cudi's book 'Long Shot'.
Orion Publishing Group

Cudi left Iran as a 19-year-old because he was to be conscripted into the Iranian Army and forced to fight against his own people, the Kurds.

However, he was drawn into the fighting when he saw ISIS taking hold of territory in Syria and his native Kurdistan. Cudi returned to the Middle East to fight against the growing 'caliphate' of ISIS. After a brief training period, he hit the front line in 2013.

In an interview with the Express, he said: "I was defending my land, my people, civilians.

"There was a young boy I shot. I had no choice. I had a problem putting myself together after that. I shot one jihadi when he was looking back at me.

"When I was writing the book I was reliving those events and sometimes I could not sleep for three or four nights."

"I was a little bit paralysed, going back in my mind. I was feeling some sort of regret, but I am not haunted now by the experience of doing those things.

"I was ready to die then and I am ready to die again to fight for my people, our ideas and our community. I have peace in my heart and mind.

"Writing the book has helped me digest what happened, but it was exhausting."

Buildings destroyed by fighting in Kobani.
PA

During the battles, Cudi claims he took out 250 ISIS terrorists, although he also says that other snipers took out as many as 500.

To put that into perspective, the USA Navy SEAL Chris Kyle - he of American Sniper fame - only took out 160.

In the book, Cudi also talks about his injury and eventual return from the war. After being in the close vicinity of a rocket strike, he returned to the UK, where he still lives.

The extract states: "Although death is very close you have to think about how to survive, so you fight back.

"You also have to deal with complicated difficult situations, losing your comrades and shooting a comrade by mistake.

"Everyone says that diamonds are made under pressure and I think there is some truth in that.

"You develop a survival mechanism within to cope. You try not to break down, so you keep your head high.

"When I was hit I saw the colour of death. I experienced its wild emotions. This is extraordinary to experience and you appreciate being alive and look at life with a new purpose and meaning."

Rubble left from fighting in Kobani.
PA

Now, even though he is happy in the UK, Cudi hopes to return to Kobani to help rebuild the city from the damages of war.

He is concerned that ISIS supporters could attack him at his home in Britain, however, he is not scared.

Cudi added: "There are sleeper cells which could be anywhere but I have my security and I am careful.

"I am lucky to be living in an open, democratic society and I appreciate my life in Britain."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: UK News, Interesting, ISIS, UK