MESOP SHORT CUTS : 6 Islamists reported dead during clashes with Kurdish YPG, north Syria

09-04-2014 –  ARA News – Urfa, Turkey− At least 6 members of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant group (ISIL) were killed in the countryside of Tel Abyad, norther Syria, on Monday during clashes with the Kurdish forces of the Popular Protection Units (YPG). 

The clashes erupted since nearly two weeks as the ISIL fighters launched an attack against the YPG-held village of Kendal in the western countryside of Tel Abyad, aiming at taking control over the villages.Saman Kalo, field media activist accompanying the YPG forces, told ARA News that the recent attempt of ISIL militants to take over Kendal village “ended to failure”, as the YPG “set an ambush at the village’s borders, which claimed lives of 6 ISIL militants on Monday”.

“YPG forces seized weapons from ISIL fighters during the clashes, including five rifles, one PKS machine gun, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and three hand grenades,” according to Kalo. “The ISIL members withdrew from the area, and left behind the corpses of their comrades.” Al-Qaeda splinter group of ISIL has gained control over the city of Tel Abyad in Raqqa province about two months ago, and is currently trying to extend control towards the Kurdish-populated YPG-held villages west of the city. The YPG-ISIL conflict started nearly one year ago for control over areas in north and northeastern Syria. Hundreds of fighters have been so far killed from both sides, while thousands of civilians were forcibly displaced.