Comrades pay tribute to British man killed fighting ISIS in Syria

A British man killed fighting Islamic State militants in Syria has been hailed as a martyr by his Kurdish comrades.
Carl Evans. International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire.Carl Evans. International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire.
Carl Evans. International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire.

Dean Carl Evans, 22, from Reading, Berkshire, is understood to have died in fighting near Manbij, an IS stronghold in northern Syria.

His father, John Evans, paid tribute to him, saying he was "loved and will be missed by all his family and friends" and posted a photo of Mr Evans as a youngster dressed in military fatigues.

Carl Evans. Picture by International Brigades of Rojava/PA WireCarl Evans. Picture by International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire
Carl Evans. Picture by International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire
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The deaths of Mr Evans and a Slovenian man were announced on a Facebook page for international volunteers fighting in the YPG (People's Protection Units) and the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) groups against IS militants.

In a post, the International Brigades of Rojava said: "British YPG fighter Dean Carl Evans (Givara Rojava) martyred in ‪#Manbij‬ clashes against ISIS on 21st July 2016."

The group posted a "YPG martyr video" and urged their followers to share the clip to "honour our heroes who are fighting against Isis".

The footage appeared to show Mr Evans cocking a machine gun along with a picture of him wearing webbing with an assault rifle slung over his shoulder.

Carl Evans. Picture by International Brigades of Rojava/PA WireCarl Evans. Picture by International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire
Carl Evans. Picture by International Brigades of Rojava/PA Wire
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Mr Evans' father told family and friends in emotional Facebook posts that his son had died.

"He (Dean) would have been very proud and would have regarded you all as his brothers and sisters," he wrote.