8 IS militants killed in northern Syria
Xinhua, January 13, 2015 Adjust font size:
At least eight members of the Islamic State (IS) militant group were killed on Tuesday in clashes with Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, a monitor group reported.
The IS attacked positions of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) near the al-Hal marketplace and east of the secure governmental zone in the predominantly Kurdish city of Ayn al-Arab, or Kobane, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The London-based watchdog group added that the YPG responded to the attacks, killing eight IS militants amid ongoing clashes in the northern neighborhood of Mashta Nour, with the YPG advancing in that part of the city.
The U.S.-led anti-terror coalition also carried out three strikes against IS positions in Ayn al-Arab, the Observatory said without elaboration.
Islamic State militants have been on a major offensive against Ayn al-Arab since last September, appearing determined to capture the strategic city on the borders with Turkey.
The resilience of Kurdish fighters and U.S.-led airstrikes have so far contributed to slowing down IS advancement in northern Syria. Endit