The YPG Captures 5 Villages in Al-Hasakah; 8 ISIS Members Arrested for Narcotics in the Province
After fierce clashes near the predominately Kurdish city of Ras Al-‘Ayn in the Al-Hasakah Governorate, the People’s Protection Units (YPG) successfully cutoff the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) fighters from their southeastern supply route earlier today. The YPG carried out a series of operations targeting ISIS strongholds in the surrounding areas near Ras Al-‘Ayn; the result was the capture of the following villages: ‘Ameer, Noufleyyeh, Toulaan, Rassam Al-Hajeer, and Noah.
Over 80 ISIS fighters were killed during the YPG offensive near Ras Al-‘Ayn, including a prominent ISIS field commander named “Abu Khattaab”. Yesterday, Abu Khattaab was killed in the village of Al-Mabrouka at Tal Abu Bakr (hill) during the YPG’s onslaught – he possessed no identification; however, he was identified by one of the captured ISIS fighters.
The Syrian Arab Army has continued its offensive in the eastern part of the Al-Qamishli District as they combed through the rugged hills of Jabal ‘Abdel-Aziz, killing scores of ISIS militants in the process. Currently, the SAA and National Defense Forces (NDF) control 80 percent of the area around Jabal ‘Abdel-Aziz; this success is attributed to the poor distribution of ISIS fighters around Al-Hasakah. The Syrian Air Force is making it difficult for ISIS reinforcements to arrive to the besieged areas from Tal Barak due to the SAAF’s constant bombardment from the air.
Yesterday, Syrian Security Forces arrested 8 members of ISIS in the Al-Qamishli District after receiving a tip from a civilian regarding their whereabouts. The Syrian Security Forces carried out the raid around 6 A.M. in the Al-Aziziyyeh Quarter, surprising the ISIS members and confiscating their possessions. Among the captured ISIS fighters possessions were a heterogeneous assortment of narcotics, forged documents, and stolen televisions/electronic equipment.
At Kobane, the YPG has repelled numerous ISIS attacks at the southern corridor of the city, killing over 120 militants in the last 2 days, including a notorious ISIS member named “Abu ‘Abdel-Rahman”. Abu ‘Abdel-Rahman was killed by a YPG sniper during an ISIS infiltration attempt yesterday morning. According to a source, the YPG has countered ISIS in the southwestern part of Kobane, launching an offensive on the militants’ defenses on the city’s outskirts.
