On the 76th day of ISIS attacks on Kobanê the YPG and YPJ fighters have gained control of 75-80% of the city. As the Kurdish forces advance, the ISIS gangs fire mortars at random and use snipers, but to no avail as their attacks are repulsed. Clashes are continuing on the eastern, southern and south western fronts. On the western front the YPG and YPJ fighters are being supported by peshmerga and Burkan al Firat forces. The peshmerga are not on the front line, instead supporting the YPG by firing mortars and katyusha rockets.

YPG/YPJ fighters who have repulsed attacks by ISIS gangs are continuing to advance step by step. While during this advance the YPG/YPJ fighters are inflicting heavy blows on the gangs, they are also seizing large amounts of ammunition.

YPJ commander Zilan Kobanê said that in recent days on the eastern front in particular many points have been cleansed of ISIS gangs and large quantities of munitions seized. YPG commander Ciwan Kobanê added: "We are advancing step by step. This means that Kobanê is gradually being cleansed of the gangs.”

Advance continues step by step

The most intense clashes are taking place on the eastern front around Municipality Street, which is now almost entirely under the control of YPG and YPJ fighters who are seizing large amounts of ammunition on an almost daily basis.

YPJ Commander: They have abandoned many positions

YPJ commander Zilan Kobanê, who is fighting on the front line in the Municipality street area, said the gangs have been cleansed from many areas on the eastern front in the last 3 days, adding that the ISIS gangs have suffered heavy casualties. She said: "They are now resorting to sniper fire and mortar fire as we have broken the back of their attacks.”

YPG Commander:  We are advancing step by step

YPG commander Ciwan Kobanê said: “Our comrades have demonstrated in the last 3 days that the gangs will not be able to stand up to our forces. In the last 3 weeks there have been fierce clashes around the Municipality and we are advancing step by step.”

Ciwan Kobanê added that the liberation of the city would take time. He said: "Urban warfare is an arduous, drawn out process. We have experience of this. Fighting is going on house to house, street to street. We are advancing and we can say that in the last 3 days we have broken the backs of the gangs.”