Kurds claim strategic positions in Syria’s Kobani

19 January 2015 | 20:53 Code : 1943315 Latest Headlines

Kurdish fighters have managed to claim a strategic hilltop from the ISIL Takfiri terrorists in the Syrian border town of Kobani.

Kurdish fighters from the People’s Protection Units (YPG) retook a strategic position known as Mishte-ur early Monday.  

The recapture, which came after hours of fierce combat, is significant progress for Kurdish fighters battling Takfiris in the area. Eleven ISIL terrorists were reportedly killed during the clashes which also saw the militants lose a large amount of ammunition and weapons to Kurdish fighters.

ISIL took control of the strategic hills nearly four months ago, which gave the militants an advantage in battles in Aleppo in the east and and Reqa in the west. The recapture now puts the YPG fighters in a superior position to ISIL militants and gives them a line of fire over the resupply lines of ISIL.

Backed by Kurdish Peshmerga forces, YPG has made significant progress in retaking positions from terrorists in north Syria. ISIL’s repeated attempts to seize the city has been repelled by Kurdish fighters since September and the militants only control 15 percent of the city now.

The battle for the town has claimed the lives of more than 1,600 people, most of them from ISIL. Takfiri militants, however, continue their march to take the city as it could massively increase the group’s territorial control over the area.