A MAN from Lanarkshire has travelled to Syria to take part in fierce fighting against terrorist group Islamic State.

Jamie Read, of Newmains, appears to have joined a group defending the northern city of Kobani against jihadists.

He is pictured on his Facebook page alongside American Jordan Matson who has links with the Lions of Rojava, an offshoot of the Kurdish People's Protection Units, the YPG.

Both men are wearing full combat fatigues and holding high-powered weapons in the photograph posted on November 20.

Mr Read, who claims to have been trained by the French Army, suggests on Facebook that he has been involved in a gun battle.

His Facebook friends offer encouraging messages and Mr Read responds: "...miss you lads. Hard work over here."

It appears that Read arrived in Syria recen-tly after a message posted on November 5 revealed: "It looks like all the hard work has paid off. I got my good news, most of you know what I'm doing. For those that don't you will have to wait haha, can't really say on here but all I can say is this time next week I will be living the dream."

Mr Read is believed to have joined other Britons taking on IS in Syria as part of Lions of Rojava.

The group also has a Facebook page where people are urged to join and help "send terrorists to hell and save humanity" from IS.

The government believes more than 500 Britons have joined the conflict in Syria.

Two British men were reportedly killed while fighting alongside IS militants recently.

The Evening Times contacted Mr Read and members of his family for comment yesterday but they did not respond.

peter.swindon@ eveningtimes.co.uk