British actor joins fight against Isis

A British actor who says he has abandoned his Hollywood career to fight Islamic State in Syria has called for UK troops to be sent to the war-torn country.

Micheal Enright, who appeared in Pirates Of The Caribbean alongside Johnny Depp, said the intervention of British armed forces would "end this fight much quicker".

The 51-year-old, originally from Manchester, claims he has been fighting with the Kurdish People's Protection Unit (YPG) for the last four months.

He said he was aware of about 40 Westerners fighting Isis in Syria - including around 10 Britons, but they were hugely outnumbered by the numbers travelling to join the extremist group.

Mr Enright told the Press Association: "We know for every one of us out here against Isis from England or America or the West, there's probably 10 to 20 who have joined Isis.

"I've come across dead Isis all the time. Nine times out of 10 we don't bury them. We don't cut their heads off like they do us. We just leave them where they fall most of the time. Sometimes they're beheaded because they get eaten by dogs."

Mr Enright said it was now "vital" for the British government to do more to support the fight against Islamic State.

Asked whether he would like to see British troops on the ground in Syria, he replied: "Personally yes, because it would end this fight much quicker.

"But I'm also British and I understand the English and American reticence to get involved in another Middle Eastern war.

"We have almost no heavy weapons. If we could get any kind of heavy weapons, that would be amazing.

"We just need Brits who have got some grit and are ready to go. That comes in all shapes and sizes, not just soldiers."

Former US soldier Jordan Matson, who is also fighting with the YPG, has called Mr Enright "mentally unstable" and accused him of trying to sell his story to the media.

But the actor said claims that he was seeking publicity were "baloney".

Mr Enright said he had not had killed any Isis fighters himself, but he had filmed operations to clear villages held by the militant group.

Despite having no military training, he said he travelled to Syria without telling his mother and sister because he did not want them to talk him out of it.

"This is the most important thing I've ever done with my life," Mr Enright said.

"There's no acting job that can come close to this. I made a commitment to stay here until we've beaten Isis and that's what I intend to do.

"I'm here fighting with these lads I have a bond with. These guys here would take a bullet for me. They're beautiful people. I love them."

Mr Enright said he decided to join the fight against Isis after journalist James Foley was beheaded by Mohammed Emwazi known as "Jihadi John".

"I was just appalled by the cowardice of that man to do that," he said.