Islamic State attacks test Kurdish-Syrian rebel alliance
The Islamic State’s offensive against the Kurdish stronghold of Kobani came only days after the People’s Protection Units formed an alliance with local Syrian rebel brigades to confront the terrorist group.
ALEPPO, Syria — The Islamic State (IS) attack on the area of Kobani — also known as Ayn al-Arab — on the Turkish border north of Aleppo raises a lot of questions about the ability of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) to prevent IS from reaching one of its main strongholds, as IS sweeps through dozens of Kurdish villages.
The ongoing IS advance on the ground has also tested the newly formed Joint Operations Room set up Sept. 10 between the YPG and several rebel brigades. According to Amer Hasan, director of the Dawn of Freedom Brigades’ media office, rebel factions there “are doing their best” to support the YPG.
It seems that the new alliance provoked IS to launch a pre-emptive assault against Kobani days following its formation and amid US plans to provide more support for the “moderate Syrian opposition” to fight IS.
By Sept. 21, IS managed to overrun 64 villages. Kobani and the surrounding villages are thus fully besieged, and the city’s only outlet lies across the Turkish border.
