A Kurdish female fighter from Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) checks her weapon near Ras al-Ain, in the province of Hasakah, after capturing it from Islamist rebels November 6, 2013. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), said Kurdish militias had seized the city of Ras al-Ain and all its surrounding villages. Syrian Kurdish fighters have captured more territory from Islamist rebels in northeastern Syria, a Kurdish militant group said on Monday, tightening their grip on an area where they have been setting up autonomous rule. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Female members of the Kurdish police, also known as Asayis, sit together as a fellow member trains them on how to use a weapon at their headquarters in Qamshli November 8, 2013. A picture of jailed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan is seen on the wall above. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Female fighters in the Free Syrian Army are seen along a damaged street filled with debris in Aleppo's Salaheddine neighbourhood November 6, 2013. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A female fighter in the Free Syrian Army exchanges her weapon with a fellow fighter in Aleppo's Salaheddine neighbourhood November 6, 2013. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A Free Syrian Army fighter trains a female fighter how to use a weapon in Aleppo's Salaheddine neighbourhood November 6, 2013. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A female fighter in the Free Syrian Army sits on the stairs in Aleppo's Salaheddine neighbourhood November 6, 2013. REUTERS/Mahmoud Hassano (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Um Radwan, a female fighter in the Free Syrian Army, takes cover with a fellow fighter inside a room in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district October 3, 2013. Um Radwan joined the Free Syrian Army after the death of her husband, who was also a Free Syrian Army fighter, according to activists. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MILITARY) 

Um Radwan, a female fighter in the Free Syrian Army, looks through a curtain in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district October 3, 2013. Um Radwan joined the Free Syrian Army after the death of her husband, who was also a Free Syrian Army fighter, according to activists. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MILITARY) 

Um Radwan, a female fighter in the Free Syrian Army, stands as she holds her weapon in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district October 3, 2013. Um Radwan joined the Free Syrian Army after the death of her husband, who was also a Free Syrian Army fighter, according to activists. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MILITARY) 

Um Radwan, a female fighter in the Free Syrian Army, runs for cover from snipers loyal to the Syrian regime in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district October 3, 2013. Um Radwan joined the Free Syrian Army after the death of her husband, who was also a Free Syrian Army fighter, according to activists. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MILITARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Um Radwan, a female fighter in the Free Syrian Army, sits on a sofa with fellow fighters along a street in Aleppo's Bustan al-Basha district October 3, 2013. Um Radwan joined the Free Syrian Army after the death of her husband, who was also a Free Syrian Army fighter, according to activists. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT MILITARY) 

A female member of the "Mother Aisha" battalion receives instruction as she holds a rifle during military training in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A female member of the "Mother Aisha" battalion aims her weapon as she undergoes military training in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) 

Female members of the "Mother Aisha" battalion sit together along a street in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A female member of the "Mother Aisha" batallion gestures as she holds a weapon in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) 

A trainer points to a spot on a mannequin during military training for female members of the "Mother Aisha" battalion in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) 

A female member of the "Mother Aisha" battalion receives instruction as she holds a rifle during military training in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Female members of the "Mother Aisha" battalion sit together along a street in Aleppo's Salaheddine district, September 19, 2013. REUTERS/Loubna Mrie (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) 

Abu al-Taib, the leader of Ahbab Al-Mustafa Battalion, demonstrates to female members as he holds a gun during a military training in a mosque in the Seif El Dawla neighbourhood in Aleppo June 24, 2013. Picture taken June 24, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) 

A female member of the Ahbab Al-Mustafa Battalion stands on a pick-up truck mounted with an anti-aircraft weapon as she undergoes military training in Aleppo's Salaheddine district June 24, 2013. Picture taken June 24, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT MILITARY CIVIL UNREST) 

A female member of the Ahbab Al-Mustafa Battalion holds a rifle during military training in a mosque in the Seif El Dawla neighbourhood in Aleppo June 24, 2013. Picture taken June 24, 2013. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT MILITARY CIVIL UNREST) 

Kurdish female fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) take positions to guard the area in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, June 19, 2013. Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) joined the Free Syrian Army to fight against forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Picture taken June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Nour Kelze (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

An armed Kurdish fighter from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) walks past Kurdish graffiti in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, June 19, 2013. Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) joined the Free Syrian Army to fight against forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Picture taken June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Nour Kelze (SYRIA - Tags: CIVIL UNREST POLITICS CONFLICT) 

Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG), wearing vests with the YPG logo, stand along a street in Aleppo's Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood, June 19, 2013. Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) joined the Free Syrian Army to fight against forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Picture taken June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Nour Kelze (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT) 

A woman member of the Al-Ikhlas (Loyalty) Battalion, stops a van at a checkpoint in Aleppo March 31, 2013. The Al-Ikhlas (Loyalty) Battalion is a security battalion that involves women that are in charge of erecting sudden checkpoints and raiding houses that contain women in Aleppo. The battalion is under the Ghorabaa (Strangers) Al-Sham Front, controlled by the Free Syrian Army. REUTERS/Giath Taha (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Women members of the Al-Ikhlas (Loyalty) Battalion rest with their weapons in Aleppo March 31, 2013. The Al-Ikhlas (Loyalty) Battalion is a security battalion that involves women that are in charge of erecting sudden checkpoints and raiding houses that contain women in Aleppo. The battalion is under the Ghorabaa (Strangers) Al-Sham Front, controlled by the Free Syrian Army. REUTERS/Giath Taha (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST CONFLICT TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Women, who are part of the Sawt al-Haq (Voice of Rights), stand with their weapons as they undergo military training in Aleppo February 17, 2013. A group of women are undergoing military training to form the Nazek Obeid group as part of the Sawt al-Haq battalion, which is based on the frontline of Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) 

Women, who are part of the Sawt al-Haq (Voice of Rights), take aim with their weapons as they undergo military training in Aleppo February 17, 2013. A group of women are undergoing military training to form the Nazek Obeid group as part of the Sawt al-Haq battalion, which is based on the frontline of Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Um Jaafar, a woman fighter in the Free Syrian Army, rests while undergoing military training with other women in Aleppo February 17, 2013. A group of women including Umm Jaafar are undergoing military training to form the Nazek Obeid group as part of the Sawt al-Haq (Voice of Rights) battalion, which is based on the frontline of Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. Um Jaafar was a women's hairdresser before the revolution and was trained by her husband Abu Jaafar, a Sawt al-Haq battalion commander, to be part of Sawt al-Haq. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY) 

Women, who are part of the Sawt al-Haq (Voice of Rights), hold a weapon as they undergo military training in Aleppo February 17, 2013. A group of women are undergoing military training to form the Nazek Obeid group as part of the Sawt al-Haq battalion, which is based on the frontline of Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: CONFLICT POLITICS CIVIL UNREST MILITARY) 

Um Jaafar, a woman fighter in the Free Syrian Army, sits with her husband Abu Jaafar, a Sawt al-Haq (Voice of Rights) battalion commander, and her daughter Faten at their home in Aleppo February 12, 2013. Um Jaafar was a women's hairdresser before the revolution and after being trained by her husband, she is now a member of a Sawt al-Haq battalion on the frontline of Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Um Jaafar, a woman fighter in the Free Syrian Army, and her husband Abu Jaafar, a Sawt al-Haq (Voice of Rights) battalion commander, prepare their weapons before heading to the frontline, in Aleppo February 12, 2013. Um Jaafar was a women's hairdresser before the revolution and after being trained by her husband, is now a member of a Sawt al-Haq battalion on the frontline of Aleppo's Sheikh Saeed neighbourhood. REUTERS/Muzaffar Salman (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST SOCIETY)