The Islamic State is increasingly urging women to fight in its battles, in a significant ideological move that highlights the group’s desperate bid to boost its manpower.

Women had not previously participated in Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’s armed struggle, with the single exception of an all-female brigade responsible for policing females in their Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.

However, with the jihadists losing large numbers of militants in the fight for Raqqa and Mosul in Iraq they have begun to adjust its narrative to appeal to an untapped resource – female fighters.