Kurds push back the Islamic State in Syria’s Kobani

Monitor says YPG now controls 80 percent of the border town, after retaking security and government district

By AFP 5 January 2015, 10:05 pm

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Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) soldiers walk near the town entrance circle heading to their strongholds in Kobani, Syria, earlier this year. (photo credit: AP/Jake Simkin)

Kurdish fighters have seized the security and government district of Syria’s Kobani from the Islamic State jihadist group and now control 80 percent of the border town, a monitoring group said Monday.

“The People’s Protection Units (YPG) fighting the jihadists (IS) for nearly four months have full control of the security district,” the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The Britain-based group said Kurdish fighters had seized control of the area after fierce clashes since Sunday night.

A US-led coalition against IS also carried out at least three airstrikes against the jihadist group in the town on the Turkish border, the Observatory said.

At least 14 IS members were killed in the fighting, it added.

IS began its assault on Kobani in mid-September 2014 and came close to overrunning the town, which is also known as Ain al-Arab.

But Kurdish fighters, backed by international airstrikes, have been able to gradually recapture territory in the small town, which is strategic because of its location on the border.