British volunteer soldier with Syria-Kurds killed fighting Islamic State

A British volunteer fighter for Kurdish forces in Syria has been killed battling the Islamic State group [IS] near its de facto capital of Raqqa.

Ryan Lock, 20, was killed on December 21 during an offensive to retake Raqqa, led by the US-backed Kurdish People's Protection Units [YPG], making him the third British man to die fighting IS.

"Here, on the dark hours of 21 December 2016, we lost our brave companion Ryan and four other fighters in Jaeber village," the YPG said in a letter to Lock's family, The Guardian reported.

"Ryan was not only a fighter providing additional force to our struggle. In fact, with his experience and knowledge he has been an example for younger fighters."

The statement added that Lock had served as an "important bridge" between Kurds and the West.

	Lock was injured in an alleged Turkish air raid [Twitter/@AfarinMamosta]

The YPG has received a steady stream of recruits from the West to help in the fight against IS extremists, but is seen as a terror group by the Turkish government and the local branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party [PKK].

Turkish troops entered Syria in August in support of pro-Ankara Syrian rebels, with the aim of ousting IS as well as Kurdish militias from its border area.

In November, Lock was bombed by alleged Turkish warplanes in a village close to the IS-held city of al-Bab. He witnessed the deaths of 12 YPG fighters – most of his unit – in the air raid.

After the attack, Lock posted a picture of himself on Facebook with cuts on his face.

"Two of my friends, Anton and Michael, were killed among many others. I'm staying to finish out my six months. F*** [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan and f*** Turkey," he said at the time.