It has been reported that YPG/YPJ forces took the town of Şexler to the west of Kobanê city earlier this month from ISIS gangs without firing a shot. The cleansing operation following the liberation of Kobanê city in January is continuing.

On the western front YPG/YPJ forces have reached the river Euphrates. After gangs took refuge in the town of Şexler on the eastern bank of the river opposite the town of Jarablus, the YPG/YPJ fighters, rather than attacking Şexler itself, endeavoured to take the Jarablus bridge. In fierce clashes in nearby villages elite Chechen and Afghan units were eradicated. In order to prevent gang members fleeing to Jarablus, the bridge was targeted by heavy weaponry. As the YPG/YPJ fighters prepared to attack Şexler, an unexpected thing happened. The valves on the Karkamış Dam in Turkey werer closed, causing the level of the river to drop, enabling the ISIS members to flee across the river to Jarablus. Şexler thus fell on 6 March without a single shot being fired. The bridge had been mined by the gangs, and after their escape it was blown up and the valves of the dam were reopened to prevent YPG/YPJ fighters crossing the river.

YPG commander Şivan Faraşin says it was no coincidence that the dam valves were reopened immediately after the blowing up of the bridge.

Faraşin said they would continue their struggle until the gangs had been driven out of Jarablus, too. He added: “Now once again the sound of children playing can be heard in Kobanê and its villages. In every place we pass young children and toddlers make the victory sign, this in itself is a great triumph."