
Syria: Kurdish forces celebrate reclaiming Kobane from Islamic State
Syrian Kurdish forces have retaken the city of Kobane, Saturday, after two days of intense fighting with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIL, ISIS) militants that has left some 200 civilians dead. The retaking of Kobane comes as Kurdish fighters and their allies, are reportedly less than 30 miles (48km) from Raqqah, the capital of IS’ self-proclaimed caliphate.
In January, Kobane was the site of one the largest battles in the fight against IS. Kurdish militants managed, with the aide of US air strikes, to dislodge IS from the city after a four month siege.
Before Kobane became one of the strategic points of the Islamic State's assault, the city and surrounding villages contained around 400,000 people, mostly of Kurdish heritage. The IS offensive, launched in September 2014, forced over 100,000 citizens to flee the area, crossing the border into Turkey.

Syrian Kurdish forces have retaken the city of Kobane, Saturday, after two days of intense fighting with Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIL, ISIS) militants that has left some 200 civilians dead. The retaking of Kobane comes as Kurdish fighters and their allies, are reportedly less than 30 miles (48km) from Raqqah, the capital of IS’ self-proclaimed caliphate.
In January, Kobane was the site of one the largest battles in the fight against IS. Kurdish militants managed, with the aide of US air strikes, to dislodge IS from the city after a four month siege.
Before Kobane became one of the strategic points of the Islamic State's assault, the city and surrounding villages contained around 400,000 people, mostly of Kurdish heritage. The IS offensive, launched in September 2014, forced over 100,000 citizens to flee the area, crossing the border into Turkey.