Islamists withdraw from Kobane countryside after clashes with Kurds

06-05-2014 – ARA News – Urfa, Turkey− After clashes with militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Kurdish forces of the Popular Protection Units (YPG) and Shams al-Shamal Brigade regained control on Monday over the Tayara hill and both Nassiro and Khurus villages north of Serrin area, near the city of Kobane in Aleppo province.This comes hours after the al-Qaeda splinter group of ISIL announced its control over these areas, according to Alan Jan, the media activist and fighter in the ranks of Shmas al-Shamal Brigade, who talked to ARA News on phone.

Jan reported that they defeated ISIL group and forces its militants to withdraw from Tayara, Nassiro and Khurus, near Kobane. 

“Our forces (fighters of Shams al-Shamal and YPG) captured 13 ISIL members,” Jan said. “We have also seized a number of weapons, including a machine gun and cannon 14.5 caliber.”Jan pointed out that a large number of ISIL militants were killed and several others wounded, stressing that he saw seven corpses of ISIL militants on the ground.”There are still clashes between our brigade (Shams al-Shamal) and ISIL, as our fighters are advancing towards Qara Qozak area,” he added.  Noteworthy, the ISIL announced at dawn on Sunday its control over the Tayara hill and a number of nearby villages near Kobane, as well as reporting many casualties among the YPG forces, which was in control over the area.