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Desert Sniper

How One Ordinary Brit Went to War Against ISIS

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Desert Sniper

By: Ed Nash
Narrated by: Finlay Robertson
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What makes an ordinary but highly educated Englishman, with no previous military training, decide to travel and fight in one of the most brutal conflicts on the planet?

Desert Sniper is an extraordinary, true account of one man's journey from well-meaning volunteer to battle-scarred combat sniper, placing himself daily in the line of fire to fight one of the greatest evils of this new century.

Ed Nash has travelled across the globe, and is working with refugees in Burma, when he first becomes aware of the terrible atrocities being committed under ISIS's newly established 'Caliphate', covering vast tracts of Iraq and Syria. In June 2015, he chooses to undertake the hazardous journey, via Northern Iraq, to Syria, to join ill-equipped and poorly trained but battle-hardened Kurdish forces as they attempt to halt Daesh's relentless advance.

Nash is an articulate, insightful and refreshingly honest companion as he unpacks the shifting complexities of the political and military situation in which he finds himself. As one of a motley band of foreign volunteer fighters - veterans of other conflicts, adventurers and misfits, from many different countries - we follow him through his rudimentary training and early combat operations as he and his companions slowly gain the trust and respect of their Kurdish colleagues.

Nash shows us the realities of the war on the ground in Syria in fascinating detail; the privations of the ordinary Kurdish soldiers, the terrible price paid by civilians caught in the cross-fire, the ever-present danger of lethal suicide bombers and occasional moments of striking beauty in amongst the carnage.

A modern classic in the making, Desert Sniper will prove to be one of the most unforgettable accounts to emerge from the war against ISIS.©2018 Ed Nash Political Science Politics & Government Middle East War Thought-Provoking Refugee Military Sniper Iran
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This a brilliant look into the experiences of an extremely brave men and his colleagues. I would love to buy the author a beer as I'm sure he has many more tales to tell!

Outstanding insight into the fight against ISIS

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First Audible that I have listened to right to the end. Great listening and we'll written.

Gripping story.

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had a really good balance of time in fire fights, day to day activities, challenges the Kurds face, political situation and of course the evil of ISIS. The fact main stream media have been forced to tow the line and we hear little about the Kurdish situation is sadly the way all political propaganda works even when its clear thousands and possibly millions of innocents are being targeted by dictatorial regimes.

inspiring and enlightening

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Thoroughly enjoyed Ed’s journey, I’ve recommended it to many, great detail and eloquently written. Absolutely 5 stars, one the better books I’ve listened to. Well worth it and a great insight to what it was actually happening on the ground from a “Civi” with no ties to the British Army where it may have been adapted to suit the best interest of the forces as I feel others similar books have been. Top work Ed.

Top book

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I came here via an advert from Mr. Nash's Youtube channel, driven more by curiosity than anything else because his military history videos are very good. What I got was a worm's eye view of what it was like to fight against ISIS equipped, at times, with little more than determination and outdated weaponry. It's not a feelgood story in any way whatosoever; the frustration and anger shine through very clearly, leavened by rays of genuine humour. I'm not sure if it will become a 'classic' but if you are interested in any way in what fighting on the ground was like when you are not equipped and backed up by a heavily industrialised country, then this is your book.

Highly recommended

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