ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – The People’s Protection Units (YPG) in Syria has captured areas around the northern Syrian city of Halab, said a statement Sunday by the Kurdish group. It added that, after several days of battles between the Islamic State (ISIS) group and YPG, the Kurdish forces drove the militants out of five long-occupied strategic areas. “YPG forces managed to capture areas of ISIS in eastern Srin town around the city of Halab,” read the statement. It added: “After several days of military clashes between ISIS and the YPG, the areas of Mujbala, Iza’a, Tal Showaiha and Shaikh Salih were freed from the extremist group.” The statement by the military wing of the group that controls Syria’s Kurdish areas, also said that a main route connecting the northeastern town of Kobani to the town of Afrin in the northwest is now open to Kurdish forces. That means ISIS has lost a vital supply line. In another logistical blow to ISIS, over the last fortnight the YPG and Arab allies took full control of the border town of Gire Spi, driving out the militants and cutting off a supply line to their self-proclaimed capital, Raqqa.
