| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Kurds stops ISIS counterattack in north Raqqa |
| 2015-11-21 |
| [ARA News] TEL ABYAD – Kurdish forces of the People’s Protection Units (YPG) clashed with militant fighters of the Islamic State group (ISIS) in the northern countryside of Raqqa, subsequent to an offensive by ISIS militants on YPG-held areas near Tel Abyad, the YPG leadership reported. Clashes broke out in the vicinity of the towns of Ain Issa and Suluk in Raqqa province, northeastern Syria, after ISIS militant fighters launched a mortar attack on the Kurdish headquarters there. Similar clashes erupted between the Kurdish forces and the radical group around Mount Abudlaziz (Kazwn) in the province of Hasakah. Officials of the YPG Media Center told ARA News: “ISIS terrorists launched several attacks on our security headquarters in the area stretching from the town of Ain Issa to Mount Abdulaziz.” “Daesh terrorists started their offensive with an attack on al-Hisha village east of Ain Issa, pounding Haweed checkpoint with heavy weapons, but our forces responded strongly to these attacks,” the YPG leadership said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. “The terrorists then attacked the village of Hijouh near the town of Suluk southwest of Tel Abyad (Gire Spi), resulting in the outbreak of fierce clashes between our YPG units and the terror group. Our forces were able to repel their attacks,” a spokesman for the YPG said. The source also pointed out that sporadic clashes broke out in the village of Abu Shakhat west of Mount Abdulaziz in Hassakah province between the Kurdish forces and ISIS militants. “Daesh terrorists fled the battlefield under heavy blows from the Kurdish forces,” he told ARA News. “At least eight militants were killed in the clashes.” Speaking to ARA News, media activist Rezan Hamo said: “It is clear the terror group is no longer able to launch large-scale attacks to seize swaths of territories. The recent ISIS attacks on positions of the Kurdish forces in the region are mere hit-and-run assaults; mostly intended to provoke the Kurds or to camouflage other preparations,” he argued. Islamic State’s extremists have been launching surprise attacks on Kurdish positions in the suburbs of Kobane and Tel Abyad for months, especially after losing both strategic areas. Kurds liberated Kobane from ISIS last February, while Tel Abyad was announced free in June. |
| Posted by:badanov |