KOBANE BORDER — Heavy fighting has decreased between Kurdish forces and Islamic State (ISIS) militants in Kobane as increased airstrikes force ISIS into defence mode, a Peshmerga commander in the city said. “Coalition airstrikes targeting ISIS in Kobane has increased, and we have controlled two more avenues in the Western parts of the city, killing several militants as a result”, Mohammed Mala Omar told Rudaw. Omar said coalition fighter jets enabled Peshmerga forces and YPG fighters to advance forward, handicapping ISIS from making advances, and forcing them into defence mode. “The equation for fighting has changed. ISIS has moved from attacking mode to defence because of US airstrikes, and our shelling”. He also said, “Geographically, fifty-five percent of the city is now under the control of YPG fighters, and approximately forty-five percent under ISIS control”. Omar said coalition airstrikes on ISIS alone are not sufficient in curbing the spread of the terror group because of the broad border of Kobane, and widespread support ISIS receives. The Peshmerga forces have reinforced YPG fighters that have defended the autonomous Kurdish canton of Kobane since early September.
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