War Against IS Unwinnable, Ex-SAS Soldier Warns

A former SAS soldier has told Sky News the war against Islamic State is unwinnable as things stand, after gaining rare access to Kurdish fighters on the frontline of the battle against the terrorist group.

Phil Campion filmed for Sky in northern Syria and Iraq with both the YPG and Kurdish Peshmerga.

He observed their war against a well-equipped and motivated enemy and experienced some of the worst battles of his life while embedded with the Kurds.

:: Big Phil's War: Faces From The Frontline

He met members of all-female fighting units in the YPJ in northern Syria. Women are described as the Kurds' secret weapon.

"Women fight the same as men," one fighter told him.

"Maybe even better. But now we're fighting for the same cause, we fight as equals."

The Kurdish female fighters are a potent force, and are known for their ruthlessness.

The female fighters showed Mr Campion body parts taken from the remains of their dead enemies.

IS fighters are said to fear being killed by women - viewing it as a disgrace barring them from paradise.

But the Kurds will not win against IS with psychological warfare and spirited fighting alone.

They are up against an enemy that has no fear of death, armed with heavy weapons taken from the fleeing Iraqi army soldiers, given to them by the US.

Mr Campion joins a growing chorus of military veterans critical of the support Kurds have been given by their allies.

He derided the outdated weapons they have to fight with.

"To say that these people need kit is an understatement," he said.

"The only thing that evens this fight up at all is the fact that these guys are so game and willing to fight because otherwise I wouldn't be here, this would be ruled by IS already."

While Western leaders ponder their options in a war that seems to be making little progress, Mr Campion's perspective is a valuable one.

Witnessing a number of confrontations between Kurdish fighters and IS, he is in no doubt they need more support from the West.

The US and its allies have been reluctant to give it, worried it would jeopardise their "One Iraq" policy by making Kurds too powerful.

But from his well-placed vantage point, embedded with Kurdish units and armed with the experience of a well-seasoned soldier, Mr Campion warns the allied strategy is fundamentally flawed.

He said: "Air power only does half the job. We can chuck ordnance down there and we're helping out.

"But how much is actually being achieved? The Peshmerga or somebody has actually got to go down there and sort it out.

"It won't be achieved slinging ordnance. Five minutes later their heads will be up and they'll be letting mortars and guns off."

:: Watch Big Phil's War on Sky Atlantic on Tuesday at 10pm and on Sky News on Wednesday at 9pm.