Day 87: Defense of Rojava spreads

Coalition forces struck two points while continuing attacks on the city's eastern and southern fronts in day 87 of Kobanê's resistance.

The YPG (People's Protection Units) and YPJ (Women's Protection Units) are continuing resistance while ISIS attacks in Kobanê go into day 87.

It was stated that two separate attacks were organized against ISIS in the vicinities of Belediye and Sukul-Hal situated in the east of Kobanê according to an announcement made by the YPG Press Center.

Additionally, it was communicated that jet fighters belonging to coalition forces struck two more locations held by ISIS.

Attacks also occured in the city of Serê Kanî in the Rojava canton of Cizîrê. The YPG arranged an attack against ISIS close to the village of Menacîr situated to the east of Serê Kanî (Ras Al-Ayn.)

It was announced that 7 ISIS members were killed in attacks which occurred near the village of Kenâmiyê connected to Dirbesiyê by the Pirizâ region.

(Source: http://www.imctv.com.tr/2014/12/10/kobani-direnisi-87-gununde/)

Alongside Kobanê and Efrîn, Cizîrê is one of three cantons in northern Syria under the control of Kurds in what is known as Rojava (Western Kurdistan.)


During the Syrian Civil War, Cizîrê was the sight of a bloody battle between opposition forces and the Syrian regime during the summer of 2012 to the winter of 2013.

After the regime was expelled from the area the Free Syrian Army launched assaults on the Kurdish PYD (Democratic Union Party) at the end of the battle's first phase. There was a brief cease-fire where both sides were forced to withdraw.

During the second phase, fighters from al-Nusra (al-Qaeda affiliate) attempted to seize the city, forcing a trifecta of conflicts between the three groups. Turkey, clearly on any side against the Kurds, was accused of shuttling arms and equipment to both al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army.

By January, the YPG was able to push back both rebel forces and the al-Nusra. This lead to a cease-fire mediated by both a committee on the side of Syrian opposition and parts of the Kurdish National Council. Three days after the agreement was signed, bitter disagreements forced its rejection.

During the third phase, al-Nusra forces were severely weakened, and the rebel opposition had to pull out in order to consolidate its opposition to the regime. Since Nov 2013, the Kurdish PYD and YPG have maintained control over the canton until ISIS was able to surmount a formidable attack in the summer of 2014. Since then Cizîrê has remained a somewhat contested area.