|
Fierce battle between Syrian Kurds and
Islamic State jihadists kills 49: NGO
31.7.2014 |
|
|
|
|
Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in
Syrian Kurdistan region (Rojava) (north and
northeastern Syria). Photo: YPG •
See Related Articles
July 31, 2014
BEIRUT,— A fierce battle between Syrian Kurds
and Islamic State jihadists has killed nearly 50
fighters from both sides as the Kurds seized several
IS positions, a monitoring group said Thursday.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also
reported fighting in eastern Syria between a Sunni
tribe and the IS, with members of the tribe tweeting
about an "uprising".
Wednesday's fighting in Kobane (Ain al-Arab in
Arabic) in Syrian Kurdistan (Rojava) killed 14
members of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG)
and 35 Islamic jihadists.
Dozens of fighters were wounded, said the
Observatory.
The Britain-based monitor said it was now "calm"
after the fighting in the Ain al-Arab area in the
restivewww.Ekurd.net
northern province of Aleppo on the border with
Turkey.
In the battle, Kurdish fighters took several hills
which IS jihadists had seized and set up positions.
Earlier in July, hundreds of Kurdish fighters had
crossed the Turkey-Syria border into Ain al-Arab, to
join the anti-IS fight.
On a separate front, the Shaitat tribe in the
eastern province of Deir Ezzor -- most of which is
under jihadist control -- also fought back against
the IS, the Observatory said.
The fighting erupted after the IS detained three
members of the tribe, "violating an agreement"
between the two sides, it said.
According to the Observatory, the Shaitat tribe had
promised IS it would not oppose it, in exchange for
the jihadists not harassing or attacking its
members.
The Sunni Shaitat tribe extends across three
villages -- Abu Hamam, Kashkiyeh and Ghranij.
Shaitat members posted on Twitter: "Shaitat rises up
against the Islamic State."
Five jihadists, including a Belgian, were killed in
the fighting, said the Observatory.
IS expelled rivals from oil-rich Deir Ezzor earlier
in July, emboldened by its lightning offensive in
neighbouring Iraq a month earlier.
Syrian rebels and activists say IS's military
capability was boosted by its capture of heavy
weapons from Iraqi troops fleeing the onslaught.
IS has been fighting poorly equipped Syrian rebels
since January.
Syria's war has killed more than 170,000 people in
three years. It began as a peaceful uprising against
President Bashar al-Assad but morphed into a complex
war after the regime unleashed a brutal crackdown on
dissent.
Regions and cities names in Kurdish may have been changed or added to
the article by Ekurd.net
Copyright ©, respective author or news agency,
AFP
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the
content of news information on this page
|
