Isis: German woman becomes first western female killed fighting extremist militants

Details around the woman, who was born in German to South African parents, are scarce

Undated image released by the YPG claims to show Ivana Hoffmann, the first female westerner killed fighting Isis (AP)

A 19-year-old German woman has reportedly become the first female foreign fighter to die fighting alongside Kurdish forces against Isis.

Ivana Hoffmann, born in Germany to South African parents, is believed to have died fighting with the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in the north-west Syrian region of Tel Tamr.

It is believed she died in pre-dawn clashes with the militants around 3am this Saturday, German newspaper Bild reported.

Turkey's communist party (MLKP) released a statement, referring to Ms Hoffmann by her nom-de-guerre Avasin Tekosin Gunes, and paid tribute to the young woman, declaring her to be “immortal”.

Little is known about Ms Hoffmann.

But it is thought she travelled to Turkey, where she joined the country’s communist party, the MLKP, before crossing the border to Syria and fighting for six months alongside the Kurdish forces, theLocal reported.

She is the third foreign fighter to be killed fighting the extremists.

Two weeks ago 25-year-old British former Royal Marine Konstandinos Erik Scurfield was killed by mortar fire while battling militants in Syria. He was the first Briton to be killed fighting the extremists.

Australian Ashley Johnson, 28, reportedly died in February attempting to liberate the Isis-held town of Tal Hamis, Syria.

Additional reporting by Associated Press