As ISIS gang attacks on Kobanê continue after nearly 3 months, the YPG/YPJ forces have moved from a defensive position into developing operations aiming to cleanse the city of the ISIS gangs.

While until the end of October the YPG/YPJ forces were on the defensive, since November they have been taking steps to rid the city of these gangs. On 2 December the YPG/YPJ forces launched the first cleansing operation in the Botan neighbourhood to the south of the city. After 5 days the neighbourhood has been entirely liberated.

For even one small part of Kobanê to be cleansed on ISIS gangs is of the utmost importance, and the ultimate objective of the YPG/YPJ is to continue the resistance until Kobanê is entirely liberated from the clutches of the gangs. The liberation of the Botan neighbourhood marks a significant step forward for the YPG/YPJ forces in that it means the ISIS route into the city from the Aleppo road has been severed. ISIS gangs were using this route from Termik village to bring reinforcements and supplies into the city.

The liberation of the Botan neighbourhood means ISIS will no longer be able to use this route easily.

It will be recalled that the ISIS gangs mounted an attack with a bomb laden vehicle from the Mürşitpınar border post under Turkish military supervision on 29 November. YPG Commander Mahmud Berxwedan said at the time that the Aleppo road was from where attacks on the border post were originating. It is therefore a significant military success for the YPG/YPJ's Kobanê Liberation Brigades to take the Botan neighbourhood, which they succeeded in doing over a five-day period without incurring any fatalities.

During the operation many gang members were killed. Of the 14 corpses found by the YPG/YPJ forces there were more foreigners than Arabs. It is also necessary to note that there were experienced foreign units amongst the gangs. A gang leader, Abu Hamza, was amongst those killed, and large amounts of ammunition were seized. The gangs used car bombs and several suicide bombers in an effort to rescue Abu Hamza after he was surrounded by YPG forces, but it was all in vain as Abu Hamza was killed in the Botan neighbourhood.

Following the operation we went to the Botan neighbourhood. We went most of the way through tunnels hollowed out of the hoses, as this is the safest way to avoid snipers. When we reached the neighbourhood it looking nothing like it had previously, with many buildings having been demolished or suffered damage.

Apart from certain areas within range of snipers, the YPG fighters move comfortably in the neighbourhood. A group of fighters are playing an instrument and singing a folk song. All the fighters have smiles on their faces after their success. Another group are drinking tea with their commanders, while a fighter offers cake to visitors.

The successfully concluded Botan operation is an important step towards the ultimate goal of cleansing the city of ISIS. In other words, the Botan operation has initiated the phase of victory in Kobanê for the YPG/YPJ.

As we return from spending a few hours in the Botan neighbourhood we again run into the YPG fighters who are continuing to sing a patriotic song: ''Keç û xortên şoreşvan şer dikin ji bo Kûrdîstan..(Revolutionary women and men are fighting for Kurdistan).''