The war against Isis is unwinnable at present, says ex-SAS soldier

Former SAS soldier Phil Campian was embedded with Kurdish troops in Syria and Iraq, including all-female fighting units

Kurdish troops are badly under-equipped and need more support from the West according to ex-SAS man, Phil Campian ((Photo credit should read MARWAN IBRAHIM/AFP/Getty Images))

The war against Isis is unwinnable according to a former SAS soldier who filmed with Kurdish fighters.

Phil Campion filmed for Sky with Kurdish troops on the frontline in Syria and Iraq.

He told Sky News he thought the war, in its present state, was unwinnable and was critical of the amount of support given to Kurdish troops by the West.

"To say that these people need kit is an understatement," Mr Campian said.

"The only thing that evens this fight up at all is the fact that these guys are so game and willing to fight because otherwise I wouldn't be here, this would be ruled by IS already."

He also said a successful campaign would require boots on the ground.

“Airstrikes alone are not enough to win a war like this,” he told Sky News.

“At some stage somebody’s got to get in the weeds and get messy.”

In his film, Big Phil’s War, Mr Campian reports experiencing some of the worst battles of his life while embedded with Kurdish troops from the Peshmerga and YPG or People’s Protection Units.

He also meets members of the all-female fighting units of the YPJ or Women’s Protection Units.

In the film, female fighters show Mr Campion body parts taken from the remains of their dead enemies.

"Women fight the same as men," one fighter tells him.

"Maybe even better. But now we're fighting for the same cause, we fight as equals."

However, the Kurds are up against a well-armed enemy equipped with heavy weapons taken from the defeated Iraqi army, given to them by the US.

Mr Campian said the Kurds were under-armed and equipped with outdated weaponry, making extra support all the more necessary.

“Air power only does half the job,” he said.

“The Peshmerga or somebody has actually got to go down there and sort it out.”

Big Phil’s War will be shown on Sky Atlantic on Tuesday at 10pm and on Sky News on Wednesday at 9pm.