According to Herodotus's The Histories, a woman, Artemisia, served as one of Xerxes naval commanders during the Persian Wars including at the Battle of Salamis. Turkish women have fought voluntarily in several wars as combatants. During World War II, Soviet women engaged in combat in every branch of the armed forces. Their service as combat pilots was especially notable. A Soviet woman became the first woman Ace with 12 kills.
Women commonly serve as combatants in irregular and guerilla forces.
They were combatants in El Salvador. They are involved in combat on both sides of the Sri Lanka fighting. A woman, Maryan Rajavi commands Iranian National Liberation Army operating on behalf of the government in exile and opposed to the current regime.