THIS is the brave Irishman who has joined the battle to liberate so-called Islamic State’s self-proclaimed capital Raqqa.

The 39-year-old uploaded a video of himself just kilometres from the frontlines of the city, where Kurdish-led fighters called the YPG — a part of the Syrian Democratic Forces — are taking on the vicious jihadi fanatics.

6 This is the Irishman known only as Çiya Demhat which means ‘mountains of our time’ in Kurdish

Identifying himself only with the Kurdish pseudonym Çiya Demhat — which means ‘mountains of our time’ — he explained why he felt obliged to travel to Syria.

Speaking in a strong Irish accent, he said: “I’m from Ireland. I came here to fight with the YPG against the IS.

“Right now, we’re a few kilometres west of Raqqa. I came here two months ago and for the last three weeks I’ve been with the heavy weapons tabor unit.

6 The Irishman went to Syria to fight alongside the Kurdish rebel army YPG

“We enter Raqqa and the outskirts of Raqqa when required. I was last there a few days ago, so the fighting is still going on there.”

The Irishman wore a floral Kurdish scarf and sported a traditional Kurdish moustache in the video, in which he appears at ease in his surroundings and greets other YPG soldiers.

He added: “I came here because I admire the struggle of the Kurdish people. I admire the People’s Protection units and how they go about their fight.

6 He took it upon himself to go to Syria to help in the war against ISIS

“There’s many similarities between the Irish and the Kurdish struggles and I’ve long admired the Kurdish people for standing up for themselves and I hope to help them in doing that and that’s why I came.

“I see many parallels between the Kurdish struggles and the struggles in Ireland. We are both small countries and we have fought powerful enemies.

“Kurdistan is divided among four states all of whom are powerful, all of whom have treated the Kurdish people abominably.

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“Again, it’s one of the reasons I admire the YPG and one of the reasons I came here.”

The SDF have been the most successful force fighting IS on the ground and are closing in on Raqqa at a phenomenal speed.

Taking back the city will herald the death knell for the terror group in Syria and Iraq as the city was their administrative capital where Yazidi women were sold as sex slaves and foreign fighters from European countries thrived.

6 He can see similarities between the Irish and the Kurdish struggles

IS also suffered a massive blow last week when it blew up the iconic al-Nuri mosque in Mosul rather than surrender it to Iraqi government troops.

The Irish Sun previously reported on Irish fighters within the Kurdish ranks including ‘James’ from Cork who met fellow compatriots at the YPG’s training camp.

The young Irishman, who has just finished his training in the Kurdish military academy, told the Irish Sun he expects to be sent to Raqqa in the coming days.

6 Ciya Demhat with some of his YPG rebel allies

Speaking from his base in Syria, he said: “We’re training away here but almost finished now. Reckon we are all headed to the Raqqa front from what we have been told.”

IS fighters are now fleeing the region in what has become known as the “Raqqa Scatter”.

According to the activist group Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, morale is low and many are surrendering to the SDF — 25 did so on Friday alone.

6 ISIS has been waging a war of terror on a number of regions in the Middle East, Africa and the Caucasus

However, the Red Cross has warned civilians could be in danger as IS hold them as human shields inside Raqqa. They said: “Fighting in Raqqa has taken a huge human toll. Reports of civilian casualties are deeply troubling.”

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