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GEOFF CHAMBERS AND ANNIKA SMETHURST
Herald Sun
February 03, 2015 12:00AM

Twitter photos showing jihadi brides being trained by the Islamic State to shoot assault rifles and conduct ‘self-defence’ classes, including operations inside abandoned buildings.

JIHADI brides and widows dressed in full burqas are being trained by Islamic State thugs to shoot assault rifles as part of “self-defence” classes.

The women — some wearing leather jackets over their burqas — catch a bus to a Syrian training camp where they shoot AK-47s and pistols at targets and inside abandoned buildings.

Australian women who have travelled to the Syrian war zone are likely be involved in the arms training by IS commanders.

Foreign recruits typically carry their weapons on the streets of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS terror group.

A social media account linked to Zehra Duman — the Australian who married Melbourne IS fighter Mahmoud Abdullatif — yesterday endorsed the military training for “akhwaat” or sisters.

“My heart is happily treading its path. A blazing war and jihad, and blood which flow for honour,” Umm Abdullatif (believed to be Duman) wrote three days ago.

In a series of photos posted by Jihadist women yesterday morning, a group of burqa- wearing IS supporters are firing weapons at targets.

An IS woman makes a love heart symbol with her hands while carrying an assault rifle. Picture: Twitter

Another photo aboard a bus shows an IS woman making a love heart symbol with her hands as an assault rifle sits between her legs.

“Fun day training for self-defence in the Islamic State … with humble sisters,” said a participant.
Another woman promotes the firing sessions. “Training (self defence) for akhwaats now available in the Islamic State,” she posted.

English-speaking jihadi brides have created an online network offering advice for supporters who want to travel to Syria.

Duman, 21, travelled to Syria last year against her family’s advice to marry Abdullatif. He was reportedly killed fighting with IS last month and other foreign fighters have been reported dead after bloody battles in Kobane and Kirkuk.

About 90 Australians have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join terror groups.

‘Akhwaats’ are likely to include Australian women.

Meanwhile, Aussie forces fighting IS terrorists in Iraq have helped reclaim more than 800 sq km of territory.

Defence Minister Kevin Andrews yesterday exclusively updated the Herald Sun on the progress of Operation OKRA. About 600 ADF troops have been deployed.

In the past month Australian fighter jets have dropped 45 laser-guided and GPS-guided bombs, targeting both IS fighters and logistics bases.

More than 6000 IS fighters have been killed in Syria and Iraq since fighting began but the threat is far from over, with the number of IS terrorists swelling to as many as 31,500, including 3000 volunteer Westerners.

In history-making 16-hour runs, crews of RAAF “wedgetail” radar aircraft operating over Iraq set a new record for the longest Australian air mission in a war zone.

Mr Andrews said terrorism remained a “real threat” to Australia and said the defeat of the IS “death cult” was “in everybody’s interest”.

geoff.chambers@news.com.au