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 “I so appreciate your Pullitzer-class reporting on the Kobane and Syrian conflicts and look forward to your updates. This is so much better than the superficial coverage that the major TV networks are providing.” JM.

SYRIA and IRAQ NEWS

KOBANE UPDATE 68: KURDS RECAPTURE 2 MORE STRATEGIC LOCATIONS AND REPEL ISLAMIC STATE ATTEMPT TO CROSS EUPHRATES RIVER:

TIMELINE – 25th MARCH 2015 14.03 GMT – UPDATED 17.28 GMT:

Current successful operations by the Kurdish forces have been at Qertel Hill, 50 kilometres south of Kobane city, where the strategic point was recaptured and 12 Islamic State (IS) fighters killed.

Spring in Kobane – Putting IS bombs to Good Use

The YPG attack started on Tuesday night around 3.00am and lasted for 2 hours. 7 x IS fighters were killed fighting on the ground, while the other 5 were destroyed along with their vehicle as they tried to escape.

50 kilometres south-east of Kobane city, a joint force of the YPG/YPJ and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) also retook the village of Al-Jalabiyya in Raqqah province after heavy fighting. 35 x IS Jihadists were reported killed.

To the south-west of Kobane Canton at the remains of Qara Qwazak bridge, the Islamic State mounted an operation by boat across the river on Monday night, but this was repelled by the YPG leaving 24 x IS Jihadists dead. 4 x YPG fighters were also killed in the clash.

Six Coalition airstrikes are reported to have targeted IS positions and vehicles in the mountains on the west side of the Euphrates River overlooking Qara Qwazak.

However, another IS convoy was reported to have crossed over the top of the Tishreen Dam further to the south on the night of the 22nd/23rd March, to reinforce their positions in the battle for Sarrin. Difficult to strike them without damaging the dam which could have devastating consequences for those living below it.

Situation map for south-west Kobane Canton courtesy of @Chuckpfarrer, here:

Kobane Canton SW Situation Report 24.03.15

This video gives a flavour of YPG operations in rural Kobane, HERE:

IS fighters remain trapped in the Lafarge Cement Plant just south of the M4 highway, but as can be seen from this map, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, they are going to be difficult to dislodge, here:

Kobane Canton Lafarge Cement Plant 24.03.15

US Central Command (Centcom) reports that strikes against IS in and around Kobane Canton have been escalated in the last few days.

From Sunday am through to Monday morning this week, the Coalition destroyed 4 x IS fighting positions and hit a large IS tactical unit, plus 4 smaller ones and another fighting position.

From Monday am through to Tuesday, the Coalition destroyed 3 x IS fighting positions, an IS checkpoint and an IS vehicle, plus hits on 4 more tactical units and 1 fighting position.

Where to Begin in the Ruins of Kobane?

From Tuesday am through to this morning, Wednesday, Coalition aircraft have made 6 airstrikes, destroying another 6 x IS fighting positions and hitting 3 x IS tactical units and 1 fighting position. (EDITOR: Not a bad start to the week!)

The Canadian Government yesterday, Tuesday, also announced that its air force, already part of the Coalition over Iraq, will from now on target Islamic State targets in Syria as well.

Within Kobane city itself the big clean-up continues, with some families trying to move back into derelict buildings or restart businesses.

Trucks have also arrived from Turkey carrying camping equipment to set up tents in or near the city.

These pictures give you a flavour of the terrible conditions that remain in the city (more can be found, HERE:)

OPPOSITION DRIVE ASSAD FORCES FROM ANCIENT CITY IN DARAA PROVINCE AND STORM SUBURBS OF IDLIB CITY:

After 4 days of fighting in southern Daraa province, Opposition fighters have today, Wednesday, completely taken control of the ancient city of Busra Al-Sham east-south-east of Daraa city. The Syrian Government called their defeat a “strategic withdrawal”.

Opposition Fighters Infront of Roman Remains in Busra

At the heart of Busra is a castle with a Roman amphitheatre inside it. Nearby are the remains of a Roman Circus where they would have had chariot races.

In the 2nd century city was once the capital of the Roman province of “Arabia” and a stopover on the caravan routes to Mecca.

Fortunately, the historic remains, a registered UNESCO World Heritage Site, remain largely intact.

85% of the fighters involved in the capture of the city were from mainstream FSA groups with the other 15% from Islamic units. The Al-Nusra Front was not involved.

Busra is just 10 kilometres (6 miles) from the Syrian border with Jordan and sits on high ground overlooking the plains that run out from Damascus.

Currently Busra is a town of around 19,000 inhabitants but there have been as many as 30,000, mainly Sunni.

A number of Assad’s troops were captured, including officers and 21 FSA fighters were reported killed in the assault. This footage shows part of the battle infront of the ancient Roman gate, HERE:

FSA fighters burned a captured Hezbollah flag in the city centre before filming this drive-by today, HERE:

The Daraa Opposition fighters, unified as the Southern Front, have also launched attacks at Al-Jaddiyah, 80 kilometres north-west of Busra, and at Qeita village west of Sanamein.

In Idlib province, Idlib city is virtually surrounded by the Al-Nusra Front (ANF), who, having announced their campaign against Assad’s forces in the city beforehand, have made spectacular gains in the first 48 hours.

Attacking the city from 3 directions and using car bombs driven by Islamists from the Gulf and US-made TOW missiles, ANF have succeeded in overrunning 12 checkpoints, including the Al-Mahlaj Factory barrier HERE: and the Sadkop Factory BarrierHERE: , both on the edge of the eastern industrial zone.

Opposition Fighters at Captured Regime Barrier in Idlib City

Today, Wednesday, they have captured a slaughterhouse, an olive oil factory and an electrical sub-station, also all in the east, but adjacent to the outer ring road.

ANF also detonated another bomb this morning using an armoured vehicle, in the north of the city and seemed to have cut the regime’s exit route going towards Aleppo, holding both Idlib University buildings and the “Youth Housing” area.

In addition, 5 of Assad’s officers and 40 of his soldiers are reported to have defected from the “Brick Factory Barrier” (Qarmeed Camp), not far from the city.

Another 36 of Assad’s troops have been reputedly executed for “giving Opposition fighters information” helping them with the assault on the city.

The southern entrance to the city is still open at present to the regime and reinforcements have been seen making their way from Latakia province. The battle for the southern entrance can be seen, HERE:

In an attempt to stem the Opposition advance, Assad’s Air Force has dropped yet more bombs on Sarmin, the target of a chlorine bomb attack a few days ago (scroll down – see below), HERE:

This map, courtesy of @archicivilians, shows how vulnerable Idlib city is to Opposition attack, surrounded strongly on 2 sides, even before the latest battle started, here:

Idlib Situation Map 24.03.15

In Aleppo, Opposition fighters have launched another attack against regime troops in Hamadaniya, (interesting video production – Arabic only) HERE:

A drone video shows us what it looks like inside the almost surrounded Aleppo citadel, still held by the Syrian Army, HERE:

According to a report from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the Islamic State has trained more than 400 children to fight on its behalf since January. Children as young as 8 have been seen in videos loading and firing guns.

Once they turn 15 they are given the option of becoming fully fledged fighters with a salary, but also tempted with weapons and training to drive vehicles. At least 10 children have been used by IS as suicide bombers and one 12 or 13 year old recently appeared in a video as an executioner. You can read more, HERE:

Like Father, Like Son – Mass Murderers

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KOBANE/CIZIRE UPDATE 67: KURDISH YPG SURROUND ISLAMIC STATE FIGHTERS AT GRAIN SILOS, BUT IS HIT BACK WITH MURDEROUS ATTACK IN HASAKAH:

TIMELINE – 23rd MARCH 2015 14.44 GMT – UPDATED 18.23 GMT:

On the south-western front in Kobane Canton, the Kurdish YPG and Free Syrian Army (FSA) allies have continued their advance towards Sarrin, despite many attacks on their positions.

And Still they Return to Kobane

23 Islamic State (IS) fighters were reported killed yesterday on the Sarrin front alone.

As well as still surrounding IS Jihadists at the Lafarge Cement Plant, the YPG now say they have completely encirlcled IS fighters at the grain silos on the M4 highway just north of Sarrin.

Coalition airstrikes have disrupted any attempt by IS to send reinforcements to the grain silos, as well as targeting Sarrin city itself.

Although one span was already damaged, blown up by IS at the the western end, a Coalition aircraft also blew up another another section of the Qara Qwazak Bridge on Thursday to make absolutely sure once again that IS could not send reinforcements to Sarrin front.

On Sunday, following airstrikes, the YPG carried out a counter-attack on a strategic hill near Qara Qwazak village still held by IS on the eastern bank of the Euphrates.

As the YPG/YPJ moved towards Sarrin they liberated Tel Kharab, killing 6 x IS fighters in the process and capturing a large amount of ammunition. Another operation on Friday at Akbesh and Tel Kazan villages saw another 21 x IS Jihadists killed in combat.

In a joint FSA/YPG operation at the Sina/Sarrin crossroads a further 8 x IS fighters were killed. 1 FSA fighter died in the clashes.

More than 40,000 people have returned to Kobane city and emergency aid and supplies via trucks is starting to trickle in.

Courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, there is an updated situation map for the south-western part of Kobane Canton, here:

Situation Map Kobane Canton SW 22.03.15

From Friday am through to last Saturday morning, US Central Command (Centcom) reports that its bomber aircraft conducted 3 strikes in Kobane Canton, destroying 9 x IS fighting positions, 1 x IS vehicle and 2 x IS machine gun posts.

From Saturday am through to yesterday morning, Sunday, Coalition bomber and remotely piloted aircraft destroyed 3 x IS fighting positions and struck 1 x IS tactical unit and 3 x IS vehicles

In a statement, Centcom reports that since Coalition strikes started against IS on August 8th with Operation Inherent Resolve, 5,314 x IS targets had been hit in both Syria and Iraq. The total cost so far is reported as $1.8 billion, working out at $8.5 million a day.

IS targets hit in the 2 countries so far include 73 tanks, 282 Humvees, 408 staging areas, 736 buildings, more than 1,000 fighting positions and 87 oil collection points.

On the eastern front of Kobane Canton, 13 x IS Jihadists were killed in the countryside west of Tel-Abayd by Coalition bombs.

Further east in the Kurdish Canton of Cizire, the YPG targeted 4 x IS positions near Tel Berak and Tel Hamis in separate operations on Friday, as well as undertaking attacks on IS at Kharitah village between Tel Tamer and Hasakah city. An undetermined number of IS fighters were killed.

On Saturday, 2 x IS fighters were killed and 3 injured west of Tel Tamer at the village of Nasri.

IS Car Bombs Kurds Celebrating New Year

In a dreadful attack on Friday, IS set off twin suicide car bomb attacks as thousands of Kurds with their families were gathering in Hasakah city for the Newroz, Kurdish New Year, celebrations.

At least 45 were killed, including children, and 120 civilians injured.

Similar celebrations planned for other cities over the weekend were called off as a result.

ASSAD LOSES BOTH A HELICOPTER FULL OF BARREL-BOMBS AND 74 PRO-GOVERNMENT FIGHTERS IN IDLIB PROVINCE:

In what appears to be an attempt to raise morale after defeats in both Syria at Kobane and in Iraq at the hands of the Kurdish Peshmerga, the Islamic State has launched major attacks against the Assad regime in both Homs and Hama provinces.

74 of Assad’s supporters were reported killed in the attack in Hama province in a 3 day battle over the weekend near Sheik Hilal, where IS appeared to be attempting to cut the main road running north from Hama to Aleppo.

In Homs province the IS Jihadists killed another 20 of Assad’s forces, and today continued the battle by attacking today, Monday, Assad’s military airport at Tadmur. Conversely, the Assad regime claimed to have killed 19 x IS Jihadists in Deir Ez-Zour province today.

Local People View Downed Assad Helicopter

More grief for Assad occurred yesterday, Sunday, when one of his helicopters was forced to make an emergency landing near the village of Frikah, 10 kilometres north of Ma’arat Al-Numan, also in Idlib province.

Of the crew of 6, one is said to have escaped, 1 was summarily executed by local people and 4, including the pilot were taken prisoner.

The crew had jettisoned their load of barrel-bombs (which Assad denies using) without lighting the fuses before impact, in order to avoid an explosion.

The helicopter can be seen in this video on Facebook, HERE:

The anger of local people was because the call sign of the helicopter was identified as “Bravo – 17″, the same as had been picked-up last week from the helicopter that had last Monday dropped barrel-bombs containing chlorine on the Idlib village of Sarmin.

The chlorine gas was hidden in cooking gas cylinders within the barrels and released on impact. 18 people are reported to have died from asphyxiation, including several children. You can read more and see a video, HERE:

The attack on Sarmin may well have been an attempt at a pre-emptive strike on the Al-Nusra Front who have announced a campaign to drive the Assad regime from Idlib city. Sarmin was possibly one of their command and control centres for the attack. This video footage shows the first Opposition shelling of Government positions on the edges of Idlib city, HERE:

In Daraa province, Opposition fighters have launched a major attack against Assad regime positions in Bosra, south-east of Daraa city, despite air attacks to prevent their advance.

Reports say that the Opposition fighters killed an Iranian in the clashes, General Ali Hashemian, as well as 20+ members of Assad’s combined National Defence Force (NDF), Hezbollah and Druze fighter army.

Fighting has also spilled over into the adjacent Druze dominated Suweida province, which is usually pretty quiet, with clashes between the Al-Nusra Front and Assad’s fighters at the village of Bakka. NDF video, HERE:

In Aleppo province, despite recent Assad regime claims that they had recaptured all of Handarat village, heavy fighting continues in the area with high numbers of deaths on the Government side reported and the exact territorial gains and losses at this stage unclear.

Within the Old City of Aleppo virtual house-to-house fighting continues on a daily basis, with the Assad forces still inside the Aleppo Citadel now looking extremely vulnerable, as this map, courtesy of @archicivilians, shows, here:

Aleppo Citadel Vulnerable to Being Completely Isolated

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KOBANE UPDATE 66: ISLAMIC STATE GEAR UP TO ATTACK KURDS FROM THE WEST BUT LOSE MORE TERRITORY TO YPG IN THE EAST:

TIMELINE – 19th MARCH 2015 14.44 GMT:

Having liberated almost the entire western sector of Kobane Canton to the shores of the Euphrates River, the Kurdish forces are now involved in heavy fights with the Islamic State on the southern front along the line of the M4 highway.

The Rebuilding of Kobane

In the last few days, the Kurdish YPG/YPJ captured a significant hill overlooking the town of Sarrin and the biggest battles are now here and near the grain silos just to the east.

Coalition aircraft have been pounding IS positions in the area.

Directly opposite Sarrin on the other side of the Euphrates, the Islamic State is reported to be massing vehicles and fighters at Najem Castle.

The nearest crossing point is across the top of Lake Tishrin Dam.

A combined YPG and Free Syrian Army (FSA) force has also recovered the village of Mejbil on the Aleppo – Hasakah road, just south of Qara Qwazak bridge and village.

To the east of Sarrin, it is still not clear whether the YPG have successfully countered the Islamic State surge across Kurdish lines to Jil and Sal. Some maps are showing Sal now back in YPG hands.

More to east again, IS fighters are also still reported to be holding out in the Lafarge Cement Works further along the highway, but remain completely surrounded, so unless IS can rescue them, their situation is pretty hopeless.

On Wednesday the deaths of 25 x IS fighters were reported around Bir Hiso on the southern front, while 2 more were killed on the eastern front by YPG/YPJ snipers at the village of Sero.

The Kurds have additionally moved the eastern front in the Canton yet nearer to IS-held Tel Abayd, liberating the villages of Aghbash, Bendir-Khan and Shewiti as well as moving closer to Beer-Arab and Jern Al-Aswad.

Within Kobane city itself the big clean-up continues, dozens of bodies of IS fighters still being discovered under the rubble. 2 members of a YPG de-mining team were also injured on Wednesday when removing an Islamic State explosive device.

This damage assessment map for Kobane from UNOSAT shows 3,247 affected structures and 979 craters, here:

Damage Assessment of Kobane by UNOSAT

This article relates what the conditions are like right now, with 40,000 people already back in the city and inadequate facilities to care for them, (good pictures) HERE:

This Voice of America video gives you an even better idea, HERE:

Kurds Celebrate Newroz Near Kobane

The Kurds of Kobane did find time this week though to celebrate Newroz, Kurdish New Year, which for 2015 will have added significance in terms of victory and joy and loss and heroic sacrifice.

While the father of former UK Royal Marine, Konstandinos Eric Scurfield, was collecting his son’s body from Kobane after he was killed fighting alongside the YPG, and honoured by them with a full guard of honour, his mother gave a brave and emotional speech at a gathering in the British Parliament. Worth listening to, here:

This Kobane Canton Map, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, shows the current situation, here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 18.03.15

This map, courtesy of @deSyracuse, shows the progression of the Kobane Canton campaign, here:

Kobane Canton 15th March 2015

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KOBANE UPDATE 65: DEFEATED IN SOUTH-WEST OF KOBANE CANTON, ISLAMIC STATE BLOW UP WESTERN SIDE OF MAJOR BRIDGE:

TIMELINE – 16th MARCH 2015 18.15 GMT:

By last Friday, the YPG were claiming that they had killed 33 Islamic State fighters in recent battles on the south-western front near Qara Qwazak and over the weekend, another 12.

Islamic State Blow Up Qara Qawzak Bridge

So even to the IS fighters it was becoming clear that their position on the east bank of the Euphrates was hopeless and after the YPG had taken Qara Qwazak village and nearby Ber Haso, what was left of the Islamic State in the area either fled, surrendered or were killed by airstrikes.

At the same time the Islamic State blew up the western end of Qara Qwazak bridge in attempt to halt any Kurdish invasion of their territory on the west bank, while they themselves retreated to the Hamam mountains overlooking the Euphrates river valley.

This video shows the bridge explosion shortly after it occurred, as well as ongoing YPG and Free Syrian Army (FSA) operations in the area, HERE:

The Kurds now control the whole of the area around the bridge, including the land, Turkish territory, on which formerly stood the Tomb of Suleyman Shah.

Prior to blowing up the bridge, some IS fighters had gathered at a house not far from the river.

This Coalition airstrike on that building (0.55) probably concentrated IS minds on retreating from there immediately, here:

US Central Command (Centcom) reports that it made one airstrike in Kobane Canton during the 24 hours from 13th March through to 8.00am on the 15th, hitting an IS tactical unit, and 4 more strikes on the 14th through to the 15th. The latter hit an IS tactical unit and destroyed 9 x IS fighting positions and an IS vehicle.

Unconfirmed reports on Sunday also say that the Coalition targeted 2 x IS night-time convoys heading for the Qara Qwazak bridge area from Manbij and Al Bab.

Latest reports say that additionally Kara Cossack, on Kobane’s western front, has fallen into YPG hands as well.

Footage of other YPG operations in rural Kobane is, HERE:

Courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, this is a close-up of the bridge situation, here:

Damage Assessment of Qara Qwazak Bridge

On the south-eastern front, the Kurds killed 5 x IS fighters in an ambush near Mênîfê Kor and on the eastern front they are ploughing on, determined to get to Tel Abayd, a major crossing and supply route for IS from Turkey.

Ronahi TV reports from Bexdik, just 25 kilometres from Tel Abayd, (English sub-titles), HERE:

New Modest Tomb of Suleyman Shah Near Turkish Border

25 kilometres west of Kobane, the Turks have already built a new, more modest tomb to the memory of Suleyman Shah, at the village of Ashme, inside Syria just yards from the Turkish border.

While in Kobane itself, the first new buildings are going up after the arrival of concrete blocks and Ahmed Qader, a dentist opened the first new dental clinic.

And from Turkey come reports that the Turkish Municipalities Union, headed by Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Kadir Topbaş, have decided to help Kobane city rebuild, extending whatever help is requested.

Officials estimate that 1200 houses were completely destroyed in the fighting and another 3,000 damaged.

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KOBANE/CIZIRE UPDATE 64: ISLAMIC STATE COUNTER-ATTACKING ON MULTIPLE FRONTS ACROSS NORTHERN SYRIA – MANY DEAD ON BOTH SIDES:

TIMELINE – 13th MARCH 2015 13.35 GMT – Updated 20.37 GMT:

Although the Kurds are in control of almost all of Kobane Canton, there are still clashes going on with the Islamic State (IS) in isolated pockets and in multiple IS attacks along the line of the M4 highway.

No Giving Up in Kobane – Haircuts as Usual

As of yesterday, IS still seems to be in possession on both Jil and Sal, north of the M4 despite earlier indications that Sal have been recaptured.

IS fighters are also still on the eastern bank of the Euphrates and yesterday, Thursday, there were heavy clashes near the Qara Qawazk bridge. Many IS Jihadists were reported killed.

IS were believed to be attempting to detonate the bridge, but were foiled in the attempt and, for the moment at least, the YPG/YPJ have secured it.

2 members of the Free Syria Army (FSA), who are supporting the YPG in the operation, were reported killed on Wednesday after being hit by an IED planted near the bridge.

In the same south-west part of the Canton, the YPG have been trying to liberate Nurali village and at the same time have resisted an IS attack on Menife Kor.

At least 1 x IS fighter was killed as the attack was repelled.

On the south-eastern front of the Canton, 6 x IS fighters were killed, 3 near Xane and another 3 driving a pick-up near Rutko after they were ambushed by the YPG. 2 further IS Jihadists were killed near Iqbis and Eydane on the eastern front.

Latest Kobane Canton Detail Situation Maps, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, showing M4 Highway attacks in south-west and Sal  incursion, here:

Kobane Detail SW M4 Highway Attack 12.03.15

Kobane Sal Incursion Attack Detail 12.03.15

In the Kurd’s Cizire Canton, in the far north-east of Syria’s Hasakah province, the Islamic State has been showering mortar shells on the town of Tel Tamir, destroying a large number of houses and one of its oldest Assyrian Christian churches.

So far the YPG have held on and claim to have killed as many as 50 x IS Jihadists, battling a defensive line 1 kilometre from the town centre.

As many as 45 YPG/YPJ personnel are reported dead in the latest fighting but this has not been confirmed. This video shows IS forces attacking a YPG watchtower near Tel Khanzir, where the new surprise IS attack started 2 days ago, (caution dead bodies), HERE:

There are also reports that the Islamic State are using TOW and Konkurs anti-tank missile launchers again the YPG, which may have been purchased from the Al-Nusra Front after the Al Quaeda aligned group drove US supported “moderate Opposition” fighters out of Idlib province and captured all their advanced weapons and ammunition.

Coalition jets have been reported flying across the Canton this morning, Friday, but as yet no reports of actual strikes against the Islamic State have been confirmed.

Battle lines in Cizire remain very fluid across the Canton and change very rapidly. Note the presence in the Canton of Assad’s troops in Hesice and Qamishli, on this map courtesy of @MarkMonmonier, here:

Cizire Canton Situation Map 13.03.15

SO FAR ASSAD’S CAMPAIGNS TO REGAIN GROUND IN ALEPPO AND THE SOUTH FAILING MISERABLY:

The Assad regime’s much touted campaign 3 weeks ago to surround the Opposition fighters in northern Aleppo and cut off their supply route between the Turkish border and their eastern-held parts of the city, has come to naught.

It was also much heralded that the advance would be led by Hezbollah, Shia militia and Iranian “advisers”. In reality, the Opposition outwitted them and at least 175 of the pro-Assad forces died in the battles, possibly many more.

Latest reports say that the Opposition fighters have now got Assad forces under pressure in the town of Bashkoy, killing another 10 of Assad’s troops in the latest clashes, including a regime commander. Bashkoy is very much out on a limb and vulnerable to being cut off from the main Government force (see map below).

The Opposition have also recaptured Handarat village and have strengthened their position in the area, now attacking Talat Al-Madafa, where they destroyed a tank and its crew. This video shows captured “elephant rockets” in Handarat (and Caution – also a lot of dead bodies), HERE: 

Predictably, the Assad regime followed the loss of Handarat by barrel-bombing the area in an attempt to destroy the Opposition fighters, HERE: 

The Assad regime has also launched a new campaign in Latakia province, hoping to recapture the Opposition-held town of Salma. Sunni fighters based in the town have launched several car bomb attacks on the Assad family’s home town of Qardaha and fired shells into pro-government villages.

It remains to be seen whether this will be any more successful than the failed campaigns to retake Aleppo and the southern provinces of Daraa and Quneitra.

Situation Map North of Aleppo 10.03.15

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KOBANE/CIZIRE UPDATE 63: KURDS REPEL ISLAMIC STATE ATTACKS ON KOBANE SOUTHERN FRONT AND CIZIRE BORDER CROSSING:

TIMELINE – 11th MARCH 2015 14.09 GMT:

On the southern front of Kobane province, the Kurdish YPG are repulsing an Islamic State counter-attack (scroll down – see below) across the M4 highway and have already recaptured the village of Mandek.

Kobane Reopens First new School

Regrettably, since YPG fighters re-entered the village, they have found the bodies of 13 murdered civilians.

The Kurds are also poised to retake the villages of Khwaydan, Khan Mamed and Hamdoun where they control the higher ground.

The local villagers have backed the Kurds in their fight against the Islamic State (IS), but not without cost in the heavy clashes. Unconfirmed reports say that 12 x IS fighters have been killed and 15 from the YPG/YPJ.

There continues to be heavy fighting too around the Sarrin Grain Silos and IS fighters remain trapped and surrounded in the Lafarge Cement Plant.

The Coalition are providing some air support with reports of fighter, bomber and remotely piloted aircraft conducting 4 airstrikes near Kobani, which hit 4 x IS tactical units and destroyed 9 x IS fighting positions and an IS vehicle between Monday and Tuesday morning this week.

Two of the airstrikes were reported to have taken place on IS positions on the western front near Qara Quawazk bridge overlooking the Euphrates and the YPG have also liberated another village in the same area, Jaddah Kabria.

On the eastern front, where the YPG are pushing towards the IS-held city of Tel Abayd, IS launched a vehicle bomb near Bendir Khan – casualties as yet unconfirmed.

In Kobane city itself the single classroom, reported re-opened a few days ago, has expanded rapidly into the Shahid Osman Primary School, with 10 teachers and 8 classes offering basic educational facilities for an estimated 250 x 7 – 15 year olds. All credit to the YPG for organising this.

The number of people wishing to return to Kobane, despite most of it being reduced to rubble, is striking. A farmer called Ramadan never left. He brought his cow, which was pregnant at the time, into Kobane city after the Islamic State advance drove him out of his village and stayed to provide the YPG/YPJ fighters with milk, sleeping by the side of his cow each night.

Pupils Get Back to School Work

Others have decided to sit tight in the relative comfort of the Turkish refugee camps just across the border until re-building gets underway. You can read more, HERE:

To the east of Kobane Canton, in the last 48 hours IS have launched a massive attack on the important border town into Turkey, Ras Al-Ayn (“Sere Kaniye” in Kurdish) which is included in the Kurds eastern Canton of Cizire, also inside the Syrian province of Hasakah.

IS are said to have deployed large numbers of heavy weapons and fighters, notably the Khorasan Battalion which mostly consists of war-hardened Chechens.

Heavy fighting is reported west and south of Ras Al-Ayn at Al-Manajir and Tal Khanzir.

Latest reports today, Wednesday, say that so far the Kurds have held their territory and many IS vehicles and IS fighters have been destroyed.

The US Department of Defence claimed yesterday that the recent campaign in Hasakah province and the recapture of Tel Hamis, formerly held by IS, has impeded the Islamic State’s ability to move men and supplies back and forth between Syria and Iraq, after anti-IS forces regained control of large sections of Route 47.

The latest Kobane Canton Situation Map, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer is, here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 10.03.15

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KOBANE UPDATE 62: ISLAMIC STATE COUNTER- ATTACK BUT HIT WITH AIRSTRIKES, 1 OF WHICH DESTROYS IS OIL REFINERY:

TIMELINE – 9th MARCH 2015 15.52 GMT:

Heavy fighting continues on several fronts in Kobane Canton, but the Kurds both hold their positions and recapture more villages.

Coalition Strikes IS Oil Refinery Near Tel Abayd

Significantly, 3 Coalition airstrikes yesterday targeted an Islamic State oil refinery at Al-Munbteh, just west of Tel Abayd on Kobane Canton’s eastern front, reportedly killing 30 members of IS and their oil refinery workers.

The Coalition deliberately targets IS oil facilities in order to try and reduce the Jihadist group’s income, which is believed to have significantly gone down in recent months, but the UN still estimating their daily income at between $846,000 to $1.6 million a day last November.

Clashes between the YPG and the Islamic State are also ongoing around Bandar Khan, 25 kilometres west of Tel Abayd.

On the south-eastern front the Coalition is also reported to have targeted IS Jihadists near the village of Celebi.

50 kilometres from Kobane city, on the southern front, the Islamic State is said to have recaptured the villages of Khan-Mamdid, Jill and Sal in “attack and retreat battles” on the main Aleppo – Hasakah road.

How long they hold this territory remains to be seen as the YPG now control most of the M4 highway along their southern territorial perimeter and Coalition airstrikes have been called in to attack IS positions, the first strikes taking place near Sal.

On the same front, the Coalition bombed IS fighters completely surrounded and still holed up in the Lafarge Cement Works and the YPG is bombing IS positions near the Sarrin Grain Silos.

Today, Monday, there are reports that the YPG have captured a strategic radio tower on a hill near the village of Hemdoun on the M4 highway. Further details awaited.

Over on the western front, in the northern sector where the YPG/YPJ are on the banks of the Euphrates, the Kurds are firing shells across the river into the IS-held city of Jarablous. In this video, you can see the Kurdish fighters in the recaptured villages of lower and upper Shuyuk and on the banks of the river with shots of the broken bridge in the background, (Kurdish only) HERE:

A second video from a Free Syrian Army (FSA) outfit, Burkan Al-Firat, shows the last days of the fighting for Shuyuk, the broken bridge and exploding “presents” left by the fleeing Jihadists, (Note the new joint FSA/YPG logo) HERE:

A second video (with English sub-titles) has more shots of the Shuyuk bridge, blown-up by retreating IS fighters, here:

In Kobane city itself, after viewing the destruction, the the Chamber of Architects and Engineers of Diyarbakir (a Turkish city with a Kurdish majority) has issued a report on the state of the destruction and what needs to be done to rebuild it.

Yet More Kobane Citizens returning Home

The conclusion of the engineers and architects is that more than half of the city is now “rubble” and it should be declared an “international disaster zone”.

There is no electricity supply other than generators, the water supply from the Euphrates is cut off and the local wells mainly damaged or destroyed, there is only one bakery working and if everyone returns 70 tons of food will be required a day, and enormous amounts of aid are needed to restore agriculture in the Canton and health services. You can read more, HERE:

Having said that the Barzani Charity Foundation from Iraq Kurdistan based in Erbil has called on international charities and governments to support the restoration process and started the ball rolling by donating $500,000.

The latest Kobane Situation Map, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, is here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 09.03.15

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KOBANE UPDATE 61: ISLAMIC STATE FLEE ACROSS BRIDGE, BLOWING IT UP BEHIND THEM, AS KURDS TAKE CONTROL OF WHOLE OF WESTERN FRONT:

TIMELINE – 6th MARCH 2015 12.55 GMT – Updated 21.46 GMT:

After heavy fighting yesterday and throughout last night at Shuyuk on the eastern bank of the Euphrates opposite the Islamic State-held city of Jarablous, IS fighters fled the area early this morning, Friday, blowing up the eastern end of the bridge behind them.

IS Retreat After Destroying Shuyuk Bridge

The Kurdish YPG/YPJ had been tightening their grip on the western edge of Kobane Canton for some days and the battles had escalated around the last major IS held territory on the east bank of the Euphrates river in the Canton around lower and upper Shuyuk villages.

It has been confirmed this morning, Friday, that both the Shuyuk villages are now in YPG hands.

Any Islamic State fighters still in the western front of Kobane Canton are trapped, unless they can swim or take to small boats, as the entrance to the next bridge to the south at Qara Qawazk, is already under YPG control.

There is or was a wooden pontoon bridge just north of the Shuyuk bridge, but the fate of this is currently unknown.

The most dangerous thing for the Kurds right now on the western front is IS sniper fire from the west bank of the Euphrates, though there are still pockets of IS fighters on their side of the river.

The defeat of IS at Shuyuk is significant as it was believed the area was a major source of tribal recruitment to their ranks.

On the southern front, now 60 kilometres out from Kobane city, heavy fighting between the Kurds and IS is reported at Joukher and Derba-Teht.

East of Kobane city major battles between the 2 sides are occurring around the eastern edge of the Canton at Bedirxan, with the YPG having some success capturing strategic points and weapons but also having to watch their northern flanks. There are reports that IS fighters from Tel Abayd, just to the east, are reappearing from just over the Turkish border to re-engage on territory already held by the YPG.

Tel Abayd itself, a strategic town held by IS, is reported to be heavily defended with trenches, mines, roadside bombs and booby traps, and YPG forces are now just 26 kilometres to the west of it.

First Schoolroom Reopens in Kobane

Within Kobane city itself some signs of normal life are starting to return.

Streets are being cleaned, re-building is underway, electricity is on, water is available, some shops have reopened, including pharmacies and the first classroom for children re-opened yesterday, Thursday.

In the Kurdish Canton of Cizire, even further to the east, in Syria’s Hasakah province heavy clashes also continued to take place between the YPG and IS, with 8 x Islamic State fighters reported killed on Wednesday and IS heavy artillery captured near Tel Hamis.

This map, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, shows the Kobane Canton situation on the western front today, 6th March 2015, here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 06.03.15

And here is an alternative map of the Kobane Canton, dated 5th March, courtesy of @MarkMonmonier, here:

Alternative Kobane Canton Map 05.03.15

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KOBANE/CIZIRE UPDATE 60: YPG BATTLE ISLAMIC STATE ACROSS NORTHERN SYRIA, 2 WESTERNERS FIGHTING WITH THEM KILLED:

TIMELINE – 4th MARCH 2015 13.55 GMT – Updated 16.40 GMT:

The battles between the Islamic State (IS) and the YPG/YPJ continue as the Kurds push the IS Jihadists to the very margin of their territory in Kobane Canton.

YPJ Fighters (Wo)Man the Guns on the Frontline

West of Kobane city, the YPG are in completely control of the eastern side of the bridge across the Euphrates river from IS-held Jarablous, effectively preventing any large scale reinforcements getting across to the remaining Jihadists on the east bank.

To the south of the bridge, fierce fighting continues around the upper and lower villages of Al-Shuyukh where the YPG are advancing slowly dismantling barriers as they go – with Coalition air support – as they try to break in and drive IS to the very shores of the Euphrates.

An IS counter attack against the recently YPG recaptured village of Cibil Ferec was repulsed on Monday and 5 x Islamic State fighters were killed, including one of their commanders, also giving up 3 x AK-47s and a rocket launcher.

To the south-west of Kobane city, the village of Degîrmen is now completely back in Kurdish hands but IS has staged a counter attack north of Sarrin.

On the eastern front on Monday, the YPG managed to kill 5 x IS Jihadists near the village of Akbas, again seizing their AK-47s and another rocket launcher.

At the village of Gultepe, 4 more IS Jihadists were killed and, says the YPG, fighting and bombing killed a further 17 Jihadists in the village of Zori over last weekend.

Latest reports say that significantly the YPG have captured the village of Eidanye and are battling to evict the Islamic State from the village of Binder-Khan which is just 25 kilometres west of the IS-held city of Tel Abayd (Kurdish – “Gire Spi”).

IS have tried to counter-attack from the east but have been targeted by 6 x Coalition airstrikes, hitting 3 x IS tactical units and destroying 10 x IS fighting positions.

On  the southern front, some IS Jihadists are still completely surrounded within the Lafarge Cement Plant and the YPG have moved on even further south, now controlling a significant portion of the M4 highway (see map below).

In the US, General Lloyd J. Austin III of the US Defence Department, speaking at a House Armed Services Committee hearing said, “Since commencing our operations in early August – just seven months ago – we’ve killed more than 8,500 ISIL fighters and we’ve destroyed hundreds of its vehicles, along with tanks and heavy weapons systems.”

His colleague, Christine Wormuth, told the Committee, “Coalition efforts have stalled ISIL’s momentum, degraded its ability to mass and manoeuvre forces, pressured or eliminated its leadership cells and disrupted its command and control and supply lines”.

(EDITOR: But we still have a very long way to go.)

In Kobane city itself, officials say that around 20,000 of their citizens have now returned, but this is presenting pressing logistical, housing, feeding and sanitation problems of its own.

Kobane Canton Situation Map, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, for 4th March 2015, here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 04.03.15

Going east of Tel Abayd and leaving the Kobane Canton for the Kurdish canton of Cizire in Syria’s Hasakah province, the YPG/YPJ continue to try and break the Islamic State’s stranglehold on the region.

Having recaptured the towns of Tel Hamis and Tel Berak over last weekend, the YPG have now taken the villages in between them and are currently engaged with IS in another battle over Xizêla.

IS forces, having withdrawn from Tel Berak are now stationed near Um-Hgera not far from Al-Hawl on the Syria/Iraq border where ongoing clashes are being reported both there and near Katuniyah Lake. Footage of the YPG/YPJ operation against IS at Tel Berak can be seen, HERE:

Heavy clashes between the Kurds and IS are also continuing near the town of Tel Temir, an area previously inhabited by a large population of Assyrian Christians.

On Monday night an IS unit attempted to infiltrate a YPG position near the village of Xerîta, between Tel Temir and Hesekê. In the battle that followed 5 x IS Jihadists were killed. The YPG simultaneously carried out an operation around the Sidiq retail centre near Heseke, killing another IS fighter.

The YPG has reported the death of the first Western volunteer fighting in their ranks, Ashley Johnston, who was killed on 23rd February fighting near Tel Hamis. He was apparently with 6 x Kurds travelling in an armoured vehicle which broke down after it was ambushed by IS. Johnston apparently jumped out of the vehicle to give his colleagues covering fire.

His Mother back in Australia thought he was doing “charity work” in Syria. The YPG’s tribute, under his adopted name of Bagok Sarhad is, HERE:

Hard on the heels of that report comes one of the death of a UK citizen of Greek origin fighting with the YPG, Konstandinos Erik Scurfield. Scurfield was shot dead near the frontline village of Tel Khuzela early today, Wednesday.

Around 26 Assyrian Christians seized by the Islamic State in the area last week, have been released in two batches this week , but between 200 and 300 are still missing.

Al Jazeera Syria news has this report on the Assyrian community from Beirut, here:

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KOBANE/YPG UPDATE 59: WHILE TURKEY SUPPLY RE-CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES, YPG RECOVER MORE THAN 400 VILLAGES ACROSS 2 CANTONS:

TIMELINE – 2nd MARCH 2015 13.34 GMT:

The campaign to drive the Islamic State (IS) completely out of Kurdish territory continues with the YPG driving the Jihadists out of another 9 villages over the weekend.

YPG Fighters on the Banks of Euphrates, West Kobane Canton

The Kurds have confirmed that they now have complete control, on Kobane Canton’s western front hard against the Euphrates River, the villages of Zawr Mughar, Boraz, Jubb Al-Faraj and Ziyarete.

The YPG were also reported yesterday to have regained half the village of Shuykh Tahtani.

Additionally, it appears that the Free Syrian Army (FSA) has upped its attacks on IS north of Aleppo, possibly leading to a joint FSA/YPG/Peshmerga/Coalition attack on Jarablous.

The Peshmerga and YPG on the east bank of the Euphrates are now close enough to fire artillery shells on the city and to launch attacks across the river.

The Coalition have already mounted air attacks on IS checkpoints near Jarablous.

Between last Friday and Saturday am, the Coalition carried out 4 airstrikes in Kobane Canton, destroying 2 x IS tactical units and 4 x IS fighting positions.

Near Aleppo, one Coalition airstrike struck 2 x IS tactical units and destroyed an IS HQ building. Coalition airstrikes are reported to have continued over the weekend with further successes.

On Kobane Canton’s eastern front, a Coalition airstrike is said to have destroyed an IS convoy last Thursday consisting of 6 vehicles, a vehicle primed for a suicide bomb attack and 2 tanks on the road between Bexdik and Tel Abayd.

After heavy fighting at the end of last week, the villages of Bexdik and Eydanê and the hill near Derfilît were captured, with losses on the IS Jihadist side reported as high as 67. YPG/YPJ deaths in the last few days have been reported as 7, but 4 other Kurdish fighters were also killed in a mine explosion in the village of Gedas. An IS counter-attack on Bexdik has been repelled.

Altogether, since the liberation of Kobane city on January 26th, the Kurds have recaptured more than 296 of the villages they lost across Kobane Canton to the Islamic State.

Turkey Sends Construction Vehicles to Kobane

In Kobane city itself, a new Peshmerga force has flown into southern Turkey and crossed the border into Syria in the regular rotation of Kurdish forces from Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Turkish municipality of Diyarbakir (which has a large Kurdish population) has also supplied a fleet of diggers and other construction vehicles to help rebuild the city.

Diyarbakir seems to be an interesting community. They are currently establishing a “Culture Street” to reflect local diversity and restoring a mosque, a church, a synagogue and Yezidi houses all in the same area, HERE:

Well east of Kobane in the Kurdish Canton of Cizire in Syria’s Hasakah province, the Kurdish YPG has been having similar success against the Islamic State as their compatriots in the west.

On Friday the YPG/YPJ secured the town of Tel Hamis, having previously surrounded it and over the weekend they also captured Tel Berak.

North of Tel Hamis the Kurds liberated the villages of Mesediye, Saîdiya Kurdan, Saîdiya Ereban and Teqteq, as well as killing 9 x IS Jihadists and seizing an IS minibus, 6 x AK-47s, a rocket launcher, 15 mines and a large quantity of ammunition.

In the fight to recover Tel hamis and Tel Berak, the YPG were supported by the Al- Sanadid Army, an Arabic tribal militia. The clashes are said to have led to deaths on both sides, but IS casualties are put at 175.

The fight for Tel Hamis was supported by Coalition airstrikes which struck an IS tactical unit and destroyed an IS vehicle. This brings the number of Kurdish villages recovered in the Canton of Cizire to at least 103.

As a result of the fighting, 4000 civilians have fled to the IS held city of Al-Shaddadi, south of Hasakah, putting a strain on resources.

The Coalition also carried out 3 airstrikes at the end of last week where the Islamic State tried to carry out an attack on the regional capital of Hasakah city. 3 x IS tactical units were hit and 3 x IS vehicles destroyed.

The Assad regime, which still has a presence in both the Hasakah province cities of Qamishli and Hasakah city itself, is reported to have held a meeting with Arabic tribes in the area in an attempt to enlist their aid in case of a complete Kurdish takeover of the cities.

Two regime soldiers were killed near Thaura Park in Hasakah city when a motorcycle bomb exploded at the weekend.

In the province, the projected number of Assyrian Christians kidnapped by IS last week has stabilised at 220. 19 of them were released on Sunday after a ransom was paid and they were transported on 2 buses from Al-Shaddadi to the Church of Church of Our Lady in Hassakah. Negotiations continue for the release of the remaining 200.

Latest situation map for Kobane Canton, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, is here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 01.03.15

If you have any doubts about the horrors of the Islamic State and the extreme cruelty which they put families through, watch these videos below. Angelina Jolie, the actress (who has had serious health problems of her own), recently went to visit some of the Yezidi refugees in camps in Iraq on behalf of UNHCR, for whom she is a special envoy, and has released these videos:

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KOBANE UPDATE 58: KURDS DRIVING ISLAMIC STATE FURTHER SOUTH AND IN WEST TO BANKS OF THE EUPHRATES:

TIMELINE – 25 th FEBRUARY 2015 14.55 GMT:

South-west of Kobane city, the Kurdish YPG has gained control of Qubbah village which is just to the north-west of Qara Qawazk bridge, and one of the last few outposts in Kobane Canton of the Islamic State (IS) on the shores of the Euphrates.

Qubbah on the Euphrates Recaptured from Islamic State

The Coalition report 6 airstrikes in Kobane Canton on Monday through Tuesday morning, hitting a large IS tactical unit, 3 other IS tactical units and 2 fighting positions, as well as destroying 3 other fighting positions completely, plus an IS checkpoint and an IS vehicle.

Two of the strikes are thought to have been on IS positions near Sarrin and Qara Qawazk bridge and there is a suggestion that these were interventions by the French who have now got their aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, in position off Bahrain, but this has not been absolutely confirmed.

IS are using Sarrin as a launching post in order to try and retake Nur Ali just to the north of it, however, for the first time, air attacks are being reported on Islamic State positions west of the Euphrates river.

On the south-eastern front, YPG sources have confirmed that the Kurds have retaken Girek and Cede and yesterday, Tuesday, they recaptured Judaydah village, just 15 kilometres west of IS stronghold of Tel Abayd.

Some reports say that YPG units are within just 5 kilometres of Tel Abayd and that they have captured the Lavarj cement factory on their way to it.

Also on the south-eastern front YPG/YPJ units destroyed an IS pick-up, killed 4 x IS fighters and seized 2 x heavy machine guns in an ambush near Degirmen. As many as 32 dead bodies of IS fighters are reported in the last few days, with 5 x YPG killed in the same period.

An IS suicide vehicle bomb was also reported to have exploded near Degirmen on Monday, but so far no reports of casualties.

Latest Kobane Canton situation map dated 24.02.15, prepared in a fast moving situation, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 24.02.15

YPG TAKES FIGHT AGAINST ISLAMIC STATE TO SYRIA’S HASAKAH PROVINCE AS POSSIBLY AS MANY AS 150 CHRISTIANS ABDUCTED:

Much of the world’s attention now seems to be slipping away from Kobane, officially in Syria’s Aleppo province, to the adjacent province of Hasakah where the YPG are trying to drive the Islamic State away from the Syria/Iraq border area.

At least 132 Islamic State fighters are reported killed since last Saturday and 100 villages south of Qamishli, seized by the YPG, who are advancing rapidly with the help of Coalition airstrikes. Centcom (US Central Command) reports 10 airstrikes in the province on Monday this week through to Tuesday am, hitting 9 x IS tactical units and destroying 2 x IS vehicles.

Assyrian Christian Militia Fighter from MFS

Most of the fighting is around the towns of Tel Hamis and Tel Tamir, between the largely Kurdish cities of Qamishli and Hasakah, where IS are said to have imprisoned as many as 150 Christian Assyrians (first reports said 90), mainly women, children and the elderly, in a school.

The villagers were rounded up in dawn raids.

Some Assyrian sources claim that the Jihadists have captured 3 or 4 hundred of their small ethnic group, which amounted to around 30,000 people before the war in Syria began, and destroyed many of their churches and looted their houses.

Almost all of the Assyrians in Syria are concentrated in this north-east corner of the country and in cooperation with the YPG and Peshmerga, they have formed their own small fighting force of around 900, known as the Syriac Military Council or MFS for short.

You can read more in Foreign Policy Syria news.

Some commentators believe IS has opened up a new front in compensation for losing at Kobane, but the YPG, used now to battling with them, are striking back hard.

Currently the YPG have Tel Hamis surrounded with a military cordon 5 to 8 kilometres deep and are bringing in reinforcements.

Significantly, the YPG have cut the road between Tel Hamis and Al-Houl near the Iraq border and a main supply artery for the Islamic State from across the frontier.

Round Tel Tamir, IS are doing exactly the same, bringing in extra fighters so they can relieve the pressure on Tel Hamis and they also managed to kill 2 members of a Kurdish security team with a car bomb on Al-Khabour bridge.

Not far away in northern Iraq, the Kurdish Peshmerga are busy removing the last Islamic State fighters around Mount Sinjar. In a major joint operation with the YPG last Sunday, the Kurds recaptured 6 villages around Khanasour and, crossing the border into Syria, removed IS from 2 villages there.

Hopefully, all Islamic State routes between Syria and Iraq will soon be broken.

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KOBANE UPDATE 57: KURDS SETTING UP “TENT CITY” TO HOUSE THOUSANDS WANTING TO RETURN TO HEAVILY MINED AND DESTROYED CITY:

TIMELINE 23rd FEBRUARY 2015 22.50 GMT:

The Kurds, continuing their historic advance, are reported to have recaptured the villages of Girek and Nur Ali 45 kilometres to the south of Kobane city.

Another Wave of Refugees Return to Kobane

Although reports this afternoon, Monday, suggest that the Islamic State (IS) has launched a counter-attack at Nur Ali, it seems that at least 36 x IS fighters have been killed in the last 24 hours.

The above villages are not far from Qara Qawazk on the Euphrates where the Turkish Army conducted the operation to remove the remains of Suleiman Shah from the mausoleum on Saturday night.

Apparently, the large Turkish convoy was preceded by a force of 300 YPG and FSA fighters who cleared a security corridor from Kobane to the promontory sticking out into the Euphrates on which the mausoleum stood.

As suspected, the Turkish commandos who went into the Suleiman Shah memorial to relieve the Turkish guard there and remove the 700 year old remains of the grandfather of Osman 1, the founder of the Ottoman empire, entered the complex from the short road running from the bridge across the Euphrates at Qara Qawazk, the entrance of which is held by the YPG.

The bulk of the force of a 100 armoured vehicles and tanks remained, in case they were needed, just to the north of the promontory on which the mausoleum stood before it was demolished by the Turks with explosives before leaving.

It also seems that a “truce” had been agreed with the Islamic State fighters, Jihadists who some weeks ago had threatened to attack the tomb and destroy it, as they consider all tombs “idolatrous”.

Once the operation was complete the YPG escorted the Turkish military back to Kobane and out through the gate across the frontier. Publicly, there has been little thanks in Turkey for YPG/YPJ bravery and fighting prowess, all of which made this operation possible in the first place. Detailed situation map report on the Suleiman Shah operation, courtesy of @ChuckPfarrer, here:

Detail Situation Map for Suleiman Shah Rescue

Various Assad officials emerged from the “woodwork” on Sunday to condemn the Turkish operation. Syria’s Minister of State for National Reconciliation, Ali Haidar, saying the Turkish incursion was an “assault” and a “violation of sovereignty” and threatening “a strategic response” (EDITOR: Whatever that is?).

Syria’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Dr. Fayssal Mikdad, described it as “a blatant display of belligerence” and a “suspicious act”, pathetically threatening to hold Turkey accountable at the appropriate moment.

Meanwhile at and around Qara Qawazk and the surrounding villages of Qel Haded, Kreek, Tell Sedar, Gadi and the Dijla barrier, fierce fighting continues. There are also unconfirmed reports that the Islamic State has sent a large convoy of one of its Chechen groups to keep open the bridge at Qara Qawazk and that IS has recaptured Al-Tayyara Hill.

Further to the east, the YPG has consolidated its control over passage along the M4 highway and has Islamic State fighters completely surrounded in the Lafarge cement plant, where Coalition jets are reported to be targeting IS defensive positions. The temptation is to blow the plant to smithereens, but the it may actually be useful in the reconstruction of Kobane.

US Central Command (Centcom) says that it carried out 3 airstrikes in Kobane Canton over the 24 hours of the 21st and 22nd of February, hitting 2 x IS tactical units, an IS anti-tank ditch and defensive bank, and destroying 2 x IS checkpoints.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) says that Coalition airstrikes have killed more than 1,600 people in the 5 months since they began on September 23rd.

At least 1,465 of those were from the Islamic State (and again mostly foreigners plus the total is likely to be a conservative figure given the secretive nature of IS), 73 were targeted members of the Al-Nusra Front and another 62 were civilians victims of war, regrettably in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Still Cleaning IS From the Streets of Kobane

Back in Kobane city itself the Kurdish authorities have started erecting hundreds of tents as part of “a thousand tent city” to house returning citizens who are starting to cross the border in large numbers.

According to the Turkish officials, who count everyone into Turkey and out again, 4,000 refugees from Kobane had already returned by the end of the weekend and as many as 3,000 came through the border crossing today, Monday, alone say local residents.

Despite officials warning citizens that the city is still heavily mined, people want to return to their home land.

15 people have already been killed in Kobane, which was once home to 200,000, from unexploded ordinance and many more injured.

This drone video, courtesy of @mutludc, shows the terrible destruction in Kobane, (scroll down) HERE:

Heyvar Sor, the Kurdish Red Crescent, has now opened a new headquarters office in Kobane and has called for international medical and humanitarian aid, as well as for medical personnel to return to the city to help. You can make donations to the work of Heyvar Sor via their secure page on JustGiving,HERE:

@ChuckPfarrer has also produced an updated map today, 23.02.15, for Kobane Canton, here:

Kobane Canton Situation Map 23.02.15

Meanwhile, in Syria’s north-east in Hasakah province, the YPG continue to take the fight to the Islamic State.

35 kilometres south-east of Qamishli there is fighting taking place between IS and the YPG near the town of Tal Hamis, with the YPG getting air support from the Coalition. On Sunday 23 farms and villages in the area were liberated by the YPG and at least 20 x IS Jihadists were killed.

Also in Hasakah province, the YPG took 2 more villages from IS near the Iraqi border not far from Jaz’ah, helped by the Peshmerga shelling IS positions from the Iraqi side of the frontier. Sadly, the shelling also killed 8 people, 5 of them children.

At the same time IS have retaliated by staging an attack on YPG positions at Ighaibish and other Christian Assyrian villages around the town of Tal Tamer. Casualties are said to have occurred on both sides and there are reports of IS capturing Assyrian women and children.

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