A British soldier believed to have left his base to join Kurdish fighters battling Islamic State (Isis) has been located and is being return to his unit, the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, has said.
It was reported last Thursday that the soldier, believed to be 19, had left after telling his family he was joining the peshmerga in Syria and Iraq because “these guys need our help”.
During Commons defence questions on Monday Fallon told MPs that the missing solider had been located and was being returned to his unit.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman confirmed the news, but added that the MoD was unable to comment further.
The soldier’s disappearance was first reported by Sky News, which said he had told his parents of his intention in a text message, also telling friends he planned to spend a year in the region.
The soldier, who has not been named, travelled to Dubai on official holiday, and so was not counted as being absent without leave.
Sky said he had been in the army since 16 and had been learning Arabic. It quoted a text message to his family as saying: “I’ve gone to join the Kurds in Syria and Iraq. I’m with other British people and a Canadian at the moment. I don’t know how to explain it to you but I really want and need to do this and I will be safe.”
Another text said: “I have good skills and I can speak the language I can help these people and help with this fight.”
At the time the MoD said it was aware of the reports and was looking into them.
While foreigners joining Isis have generated more news coverage, a number of overseas nationals have sought to fight with the Kurds.
In December it emerged that two former British soldiers had travelled to Syria to fight against Isis after feeling “compelled” to take up arms following the murder of the British aid volunteer Alan Henning.
Last year it emerged that members of a Dutch motorcycle gang had travelled to the region to assist Kurdish forces as well.
