YPG Captures Tell Abyad, ISIS Militants Defect to Turkey

* Photo Credit: Ali İhsan Öztürk, Veli Gürgah / AA

People’s Protection Units (YPG), Women’s Protection Units (YPJ),  Liwa al Tahrîr and Burkan al Firat unions which are subordinate units of Democratic Union Party (PYD) of Syria captured Tell Abyad which is between Jazira and Kobani Cantons in the Northern Syria. Tell Abyad was under the control of ISIS until 21:30 p.m. last evening. 

YPG and Burkan al Firat planted their flags on high buildings and border gates of the city. YPG named the operation 'Commandant Rubar Qamislo Operation'.

According to the news of Hawar News Agency (ANHA), Husên Koçer who is one of the commandants of YPG explained that Tell Abyad was captured. YPG and Burkan al Firat forces started search operations.

Jazira and Kobani united

According to a reporter from ANHA, YPG speeded up the operations in order to expel ISIS from the city all day long.

Yesterday before midday, YPG and Liwa al Tahrîr unions captured Tehtanî and Foqanî districts and then village Ciseriye and united with Burkan al Firat and YPG. 

In the evening, YPG, Liwa al Tahrîr and Burkan al Firat unions cut off the strategical connections of ISIS and got border gate between Tell Abyad and Akçakale under control.

ISIS mlitants defected to Turkey 

Syria Human Rights Observatory announced that 40 ISIS militants were shot to death by American coalition fighter jets before they could escape.

It was claimed that ISIS forced civilians to fight in the same line or to be human shield against the fighter jets.

4-5 militants of ISIS trespassed Turkish border and gave in to Turkish soldiers. After they took away their weapons, ISIS militants’ bodies were searched. They were smiling while they were being taken away.

What’s the importance of Tell Abyad?

Tell Abyad (Gre Spî)  had been in the grip of ISIS since June 30, 2014. Akçakale forms a divided city with Tell Abyad in Syria, maintaining a border crossing.

The city was a place for ISIS to gain weapon and new recruits. 150 thousand people live in the region including Arabs, Kurds and Turkmens.

Investigative reporter Mela Ahmed told the importance of Tell Abyad to Evrensel Daily on June 14:

“Tell Abyad is a road used by militants coming from Caucasia and Europe to join ISIS. It is a border gate which provides logistic support. When YPG captured Tell Abyad, Jazira and Kobani would unite and a vital point of ISIS would be cut off.” (AS/BD)

Click here to read this article in Turkish