Islamic State militants and their flag gone from Kobani, bodies in streets

Islamic State militants and their flag gone from Kobani, bodies in streets.
KOBANI, Syrian Kurdistan,— Islamist militants have been pushed out of Kobani and fighters of the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) are now in control of the town, a Kurdish official in Kobani in Syrian Kurdistan told Rudaw.

“There is no ISIS in Kobani now,” said Omar Alush, co-chair of the TEV-DEM movement in Kobani.

Alush said that following the recent air strikes on positions of the Islamic State (IS) militants in Kobani, the YPG managed to drive the rest of the jihadis out of town and that they are now in control.

“YPG fighters are now searching the homes for bombs and explosives that the Islamist militants might have left behind,” said Alush.
IS militants laid siege to the Kurdish town of Kobani on the Turkish-Syrian border last month, pounding the town with heavy artillery and tanks.

With support from US air strikes, the YPGwww.Ekurd.net held the town and eventually managed to turn the tide against the IS.

“Kobani is quiet now and the flag of ISIS is gone,” Alush maintained.

Alush said that the jihadis still hold Kani Arab and Gire Mishtanur, close to Kobani.

“Fighting is still going on between the ISIS and YPG on the eastern outskirts of the town,” he said.

Alush said that the air strikes were effective in pushing back the militants, however, he said, the coalition forces should cut off the ISIS supply route from other parts of Syria “because we have information that the group is preparing for another assault on Kobani.”

'Bodies in streets'
The Prime Minister of Kobani Canton in Syrian Kurdistan, Anwar Muslim, said the US-led strikes had destroyed many IS vehicles and artillery pieces.

"You can see their bodies (IS jihadists) in the streets... Our forces are reinforcing their defensive positions," he told AFP.

Muslim said sniper and mortar fire from jihadists was preventing authorities from evacuating civilians caught up in the battle.

"Their situation is difficult," he added.

Washington revealed it held its first direct talks last weekend with the main Syrian Kurdish group whose forces have been battling IS.

Earlier contacts with the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) had all been handled through intermediaries, as the group has close ties with the rebel Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) -- which is on the US terror blacklist -- over the border in Turkey.

The PYD has been appealing urgently for weapons to resupply its outgunned fighters in Kobani, but Washington said it was too early to discuss the request.

The Kurds claimed to have pushed IS back in parts of Kobani as the coalition intensified its air strikes in recent days.

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