Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) together with Iraqi Kurdistan's Peshmerga forces regained control over 90 percent of the city of Kobani in Syria, fighting off Islamic State (IS) militants, Col. Deham Ibrahim Gergeri of Peshmerga forces said.
"Yesterday, Kurdish People's Protection Units in Syria regained control of two villages in southern Kobani, situated along the road leading to Aleppo," Gergeri said. "[YPG fighters] make advances along the whole of the front line. At the moment our forces control 90 percent of the city and some territories outside of it. The enemy is retreating."
Gergeri also said that on January 24 Syrian Kurds and Peshmerga fighters regained control of the main entry point to Kobani and the road to Aleppo.
Kobani, one of the largest cities in the Kurdish region bordering Turkey, was besieged by the so-called Islamic State extremist group in September. Since then, Kurdish forces have been trying to drive the extremists out of the city.
In December 2014, Syrian Kurds leader Saleh Muslim Mohammad said that the main goal of Kurdish forces fighting against Islamic State was full liberation of Kobani.
26 January 2015 - 07:29
News ID: 667185
Col. Deham Ibrahim Gergeri of Peshmerga forces reported that Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units together with Iraqi Kurdistan's Peshmerga forces regained control over 90 percent of the city of Kobani in Syria.