Kurdish forces make further gains in Kobane

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Kurdish forces have made further gains against the Islamic State (ISIS) in Kobane, advancing higher on the Mshta Nur hills in the embattled Syrian-Kurdish town.

Late Wednesday, the Peshmerga and People’s Protection Units (YPG) launched an assault on the hill against ISIS militants, with the Peshmerga using heavy artillery in the fight.

Captain Sherwan Spindarai, from the first supporting Peshmerga forces that went to Kobane, told Rudaw that the YPG advanced several hundred meters on the southern and eastern sides of the strategic hill.

“Once the assault was launched the coalition warplanes assisted us by shelling the militants on the hill,” he said, adding that groups of militants were targeted with the heavy weapons of the Peshmerga and the coalition air strikes.

Kurdish forces have been making gains against ISIS in Kobane ever since the arrival of Peshmerga forces at the very end of October.

Kurdish forces have now been fighting ISIS in Kobane for more than 100 days.