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Added on the 13/06/2015 07:29:08 - Copyright : Wochit
Syrian Kurdish fighters closed in on the outskirts of a strategic Islamic State-held town on the Turkish border Sunday, Kurdish officials and an activist group said, potentially cutting off a key supply line for the extremists' nearby de facto capital. Taking Tal Abyad, some 50 miles north of the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, would mean the group wouldn't have a direct route to bring in new foreign militants or supplies. The Kurdish advance, coming under the cover of intense U.S.
Syrian Kurdish fighters closed in on the outskirts of a strategic Islamic State-held town on the Turkish border Sunday, Kurdish officials and an activist group said. Taking back the border town could cut off a key supply line for the extremists' nearby de facto capital. Taking Tal Abyad, some 50 miles north of the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, would deprive the group of a direct route to bring in new foreign militants and supplies. The Kurdish advance, coming under the cover of intense U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in the area, also would link their two fronts and put more pressure on Raqqa as Iraqi forces struggle to contain the group in their country.
Kurdish fighters are reported to be moving in on the north-east Syrian town of Tal Abyad, which is held by Islamic State militants. Thousands of civilians have fled to a nearby border crossing with Turkey, and some have managed to cross to safety. The advance by the Kurdish Popular Protection Units has been supported by Syrian rebel groups and US-led coalition air strikes. Tal Abyad is strategically important for both the Kurds and IS. On Sunday evening, a YPG commander said its fighters had advanced to within 165ft of the outskirts of Tal Abyad, following three days of heavy clashes during which they seized a belt of villages previously held by IS.
On Sunday, Syrian-Kurdish officials announced that U.S.-backed fighters have liberated the Syrian town of Manbij from ISIS. And now the clean up from the armed militants reign of terror begins as dazed residents reportedly described their terror at the hands of militants. Nasser Haj Mansour of the predominantly Kurdish Syria Democratic Forces also told journalists that search operations are still ongoing to try find any extremists who might be hiding in the town. This could be made more difficult, because some video footage has surfaced showing village residents cursing out the rescuing forces. But other reports say that the residents of the town were incredibly thankful to be rescued from ISIS.
Syrian state media is reporting that government forces have entered the Islamic State-held town of al-Qaryatain on Sunday, having gradually surrounded it over the past few days, from a number of directions. The Syrian and allied forces, were being backed by Russian air strikes, when they entered Al-Qaryatain which is 100 km (60 miles) west of Palmyra. The town has been held by Islamic State since late August.
The Kurds are the largest ethnic minority in Syria, where they make up between seven to 15 percent of the population. The group's fighters have also played a major role in defeating the Islamic State group but Turkey regards them as terrorists. Sanam Shantyaei dives deeper into this minority group's presence in the area.
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