Breaking News

Zana Omar

Produced by Zana Omar

February 20, 2015
Kurdish Fighters Hold Syrian Town With IS on Outskirts

Control of the border town Ras al Ayn has changed hands throughout Syria's civil war. Kurdish fighters are now in control, but Islamic State militants are at the door. VOA Kurdish service videojournalist Zana Omer went inside Ras al Ayn and compiled this report, narrated by Elizabeth Arrott.
February 10, 2015
In Syrian Town, Power Plays Rule

Kurdish fighters and Syrian government forces in the northeastern city of Hasakah had settled into an uneasy alliance for much of the country's civil war. But recent fighting between them underlines how the complex nature of the conflict, and Islamic State militants nearby, create an ever-shifting landscape. VOA Kurdish reporter Zana Omer, who visited Hasakah, has more in this report narrated by Robert Raffaele.
October 24, 2014
American Joins Syrian Kurdish Militia Force

American Jordan Matson, a former U.S. soldier from Sturtevant, Wisconsin, has joined the Syrian Kurdish militia force YPG, or Peoples Protection Units. He is one of approximately four Americans known to take up the anti-Islamic State, or ISIS, fight on their own volition. He spoke to VOA Kurdish Service reporter Zana Omer from the Kurdish-controlled region in northeastern Syria, known as Rojava.
October 18, 2014
Exclusive: American Joins Kurds' Anti-IS Fight

The United States and other Western nations have expressed alarm about their citizens joining Islamic State forces in Syria and Iraq. In a rare counterpoint to the phenomenon, an American has taken up arms with the militants' Syrian Kurdish opponents. Elizabeth Arrott has more in this exclusive profile by VOA Kurdish reporter Zana Omer in Ras al Ayn, Syria.
October 16, 2014
Exclusive: American Joins Kurds' Anti-IS Fight

Former US troop explains rationale for joining Kurdish People's Protection Units holding out against IS forces
October 10, 2014
VOA Exclusive: Turkish Troops Fire on Kurdish Protesters

Video captured by VOA's Kurdish service shows ethnic Kurds on both sides of Turkish-Syrian border rallying in support of people of Kobani, who are under heavy attack from IS militants
October 10, 2014
VOA Exclusive: Turkish Troops Fire on Kurdish Protesters

Syrian Kurdish protesters in the border town of Qamishli come under fire from Turkish forces this week, in an incident Ankara says was provoked by the demonstrators. But in exclusive video captured by VOA Kurdish service reporter Zana Omer, it is far from clear who is to blame. VOA's Elizabeth Arrott has this report.

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