People's Defense Units (YPG) have launched the second phase of the "Serêkaniyê Martyrs”operation which was started on 1 November against the al-Qaeda linked ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant) and the armed groups supporting them.

The second phase was launched on Monday evening when YPG fighters headed to the ancient Til Xelef district of Serêkaniyê, located 4 km from the city, and cleared the Esfer Necar village of gang groups.

On Tuesday morning, YPG militants have also taken five villages, Eziziye, Til Erqan, Tiwemiye, Herdan and Hemo, of the Til Xelef district bordering Turkey which has been under the control of al-Qaeda linked gangs for a long time. The village of Eziziye has reportedly served as one of the central headquarters of the al-Qaeda linked ISIL. The casualties of the gang groups have so far been transferred to Turkish hospitals over this village which has also been used for the delivery of their munitions and militants into the Syrian territory.

YPG fighters have reportedly destroyed three vehicles of the gang groups and seized an ammunition-laden vehicle during the clashes in the village.

On the other hand, sources close to YPG have reported that ISIL linked groups have blasted a wheat silo and greatly damaged it while fleeing from the Til Xelef district after clashes with YPG fighters.

In a statement about the "Serêkaniyê Martyrs” operation, YPG Press Office said on Monday that 19 villages and many hamlets have been rescued in the first phase of the operation which -it said- has succeeded and was aimed at clearing the area between Serêkaniyê and Til Temir of gang groups.

Al-Qaeda linked groups have been launching intense attacks against west Kurdistan and other Kurdish populated areas since early July. YPG had cleared the Serêkaniyê city of gang groups  following the heavy attack they launched on 16 July.

Radical Islamist groups backed by external powers, by Turkey and Saudi Arabia in particular, have suffered heavy losses in clashes with YPG fighters since the expansive operations YPG fighters launched late August. The gang groups attacking YPG have also been supported by some Kurdish groups and brigades affiliated to the Free Syrian Army. Many commanders and leaders of the ISIL have been killed in clashes so far.

After launching a series of revolutionary operations in the Çilaxa region of  Girkê Legê on 23 October, YPG took the control of the Til Koçer city and the border gate.

On 29 October, YPG cleared the Çilaxa and Rimelan region of al-Qaeda linked groups.