A KEIGHLEY man just back from fighting Islamic State invaders in Iraq has warned anyone tempted to join ISIS that “only death awaits you”.

Security guard and father-of-four, Yasir Abdulla, has made two tours of duty protecting 40 villages that belong to his family’s tribe.

“I’ve lived in Keighley for 13 years, but seeing on television what ISIS is doing in my country, I decided to fight alongside my father and brothers,” he said.

“It is our land and has been for hundreds of years, and we will never give it up. And I’d say to those who might go from Keighley or Bradford or wherever to fight with ISIS – only death awaits you. You will not return.”

“I went out in August then came home to spend Christmas with my family here. I then went back out to join my father, who is a tribal leader of 1,000 men in villages around the town of Shekhan,” added proud Kurd Mr Abdulla, 36.

“Our village was only ten minutes’ drive from the frontline, which was sometimes attacked by more than 200 ISIS fighters. I had bullets, grenades and missiles fired at me, but I know it was the right thing to do and I will go back again if needed. If anyone leaves here to go and fight with them, they will come up against people like me who will fight to the death to stop them.”

Mr Abdulla left Iraq 15 years ago during previous dictator Saddam Hussein’s brutal persecution of Kurdish people.

During his latest visit he heard terrifying stories from family members, including how ISIS had lured a mother to a camp in the belief she would see her captive son – then fed her a stew made from his remains.

“I did not see such things, but I heard about them,” Mr Abdulla said.

Arriving in his home region, where he has 200 cousins, he bought himself an American-made M4 automatic carbine and joined armoured patrols of checkpoints and took part in fire-fights with ISIS attackers.

“Since the time of my great, great grandfather it has always been war, war, war – so knowing how to use a gun is normal there,” Mr Abdulla added.

“We are of the Sharafani tribe, Sunni Muslims, but we have lived happily for hundreds of years with Shi’ites, Christians and Yazidis in our villages.

“Now everyone has united to fight IS. All of the tribes have joined together and we fight shoulder to shoulder with the Peshmerga, the military forces in Kurdistan. We only trust each other.”

Mr Abdulla’s tribe is also helping to protect an oil well, which has workers from Australia, Canada and the UK.

He added: “Kurdish people have always had to defend ourselves against Saddam or whoever and now it is the turn of ISIS.

“But this is our land and has been for centuries – we know every rock, every riverbed.

“And the people who live there of all religions will fight to protect it – there is no racism between us.

“But what ISIS is doing is against true religion and so it cannot win.

“Anyone thinking of going has been brainwashed and I say to them your family is here in Keighley or Bradford, or wherever you come from.”

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said he could not support personal action against IS or ISIL, as the fanatical group is also known.

“ISIL is a terrorist organisation unlike those we have dealt with before,” he said.

“The brutality is staggering: beheadings, crucifixions, the use of rape as a weapon and the slaughter of children.

“I therefore firmly believe the UK must play its part in destroying these evil extremists.

“But I cannot support anyone travelling from these shores to put themselves in danger and actively urge people not to do so.”