YPG/YPJ intensifying operations against ISIS in Rojava

Constant military operations conducted by joined forces of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) and the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) continue to confront the ISIS gangs attempting occupation efforts near the city of Hasakah, Rojava.

Constant military operations conducted by joined forces of the People’s Defense Units (YPG) and the Women’s Defense Units (YPJ) continue to confront the ISIS gangs attempting occupation efforts near the city of Hasakah, Rojava.

YPG Press Center said that ISIS gangs' occupation on the Western Nashwa district of Hasakah was fully ended last night in an operation conducted by the Defense Units. There, Children Hospital, Central Train Station, Electricity Crossroads, Hasakah University and several other ISIS-occupied sites were secured by the Defense Units, as all paths to the Eastern Nashwa were concurrently sealed off. During severe clashes in the noted area a number of ISIS fighters were killed, and numerous weapons caches of the gangs were seized.

According to the statement, ongoing military operations by combined forces of the People’s Defense Units and the Women’s Defense Units, alongside fighters from the Burkan al-Firat (Euphrates Volcano – Free Syrian Army) Joint Operations Room continue to target ISIS-occupied areas to the south of the city of Kobani.

The joint forces continued a steady advance along the Euphrates River where they completed progress from the village Qaraqozakh to the south and the village Malha to the north. Advancing near Qaraqozaq village, the Defense Units last night managed to liberate the hill Izeaye. While gang groups’ possible casualties are yet to be verified, Defense Units led a mop up operation in that location where they could discover and seize 2 AK rifles, 1 PKM, 1 RPG, a pair of binoculars, a piece of thermal scopes, a pair of night vision binos, 1 Radio and a quantity of ammunition and military equipment. The Defense Units quickly started mine clearing activities to secure the region of many IEDs that the gangs had planted there.

Correspondingly, heavy fighting took place between Defense Units and ISIS forces elsewhere by the Euphrates, as the ISIS gangs tried to finalize a suicide car-bomb attack in order to obstacle the advance of the Defense Units. The vehicle-borne IED was targeted before any movement was made by the attackers, also, a truck and three motorcycles were destroyed. There was no immediate word on ISIS' casualties in place near the Euphrates. There, along with 7 ISIS corpses, a piece of 120mm mortar was seized in addition to 12 mortar rounds, a piece of 60mm mortar, 6 mortar rounds, 1 Katuysha rocket launcher, 1 DShK 12.5mm, 1 AK, 1 PKM and 1 RPG-7.

In south Kobani, the Defense Units attacked suspected ISIS gangs between the villages of Geydade and Sina, killed at least 5 members of the gangs, captured 3 AK rifles, 1 PKM and 4 hand grenades.

YPG Press Center said that in southeast Kobani, ISIS forces last night attempted for an attack of three axis, the assault was failed after overnight and this morning clashes, no immediate report was available to provide further details for that battle.

In western Euphrates, an ISIS unit put their efforts to execute an attack on the western village of Shiukh. The Defense Units heavily targeted the group and forced them to withdraw from the place. Retreating from there, that unit of the gangs tried to attack on Qaraqozaq village – killing one ISIS operative – the Defense Units were able to repel the second attack as well.

According to the statement, in south Tal Abyad (Gire Spi), the Defense Units faced yet another attempt of the ISIS gangs. Securing their area of authority, a YPG unit spotted the assailants positions and pounded their locations in an ongoing operation.

On the same frontline, 20 ISIS gangs – riding 2 Van vehicles and a motorbike – were encircled by the Defense Units while trying to infiltrate into YPG/YPJ's controlled lands. Clashes which erupted after that effort resulted in destruction of the three vehicles, as all twenty ISIS members were killed. Seizing a weapons cache of 6 AK, 2 RPG and 3 PKMs, the Defense Units effectively destroyed remaining weaponry of the gangs.