Siege of Kobane (2014-2015)
The Siege of Kobanî was launched by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (also known as ISIL or ISIS) militants on 16 September 2014, in order to capture the town of Kobanî (also known as Kobanê or Ayn al-Arab) in northern Syria.
By 2 October, ISIL succeeded in capturing 350 Kurdish villages and towns within the vicinity of Kobanî, creating a wave of some 300,000 displaced Kurds, most of whom fled across the border into Turkey. Kurdish People's Protection Units coordinated with the Euphrates Volcano joint operations room in the effort to counter the ISIS offensive, and were later joined by further Free Syrian Army (FSA) reinforcements, heavily armed Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Regional Government, and with frequent American and Arab airstrikes providing air support.
On 26 January 2015, YPG along with FSA and Peshmerga reinforcements, as well as continued US-led Coalition airstrikes, allowed the defenders of Kobanî to retake the city, effectively driving ISIL into retreat. However, ISIL resistance persisted in the eastern outskirts of the city, and the most of the other villages in the Kobanî Canton remained under ISIL control.
Islamic State Building Captured by Syrian Kurdish Forces, Kobane, Jan 2015
Taken on: 2015-01-24
Source: Thomas Van Linge/Twitter
Islamic State Weapons Seized by Kurdish Forces, Kobane, Jan 2015
Taken on: 2015-01-24
Source: Thomas Van Linge/Twitter
Syrian Kurdish Forces Examine Captured Islamic State Arms, Kobane, Jan 2015
Taken on: 2015-01-24
Source: Thomas Van Linge
Islamic State Weapons Seized by Kurdish Forces, Kobane, Jan 2015
Taken on: 2015-01-24
Source: Thomas Van Linge/Twitter
Free Syrian Army 'Dawn of Freedom Brigade' Supports Kurdish Fighters, Kobane Syria, Jan 2015
Taken on: 2015-01-22
Source: Dawn of Freedom Brigades/Thomas Van Linge/twitter
FSA Dawn of Freedom Brigade Heavy Machine-gun, Kobanem Jan 2015
Taken on: 2015-01-22
Source: Dawn of Freedom Brigades/Thomas Van Linge/Twitter
YPG Soldier, Kobane, December 2014
Taken on: 2014-12-03
Source: CE/ShoutWiki
Coalition Airstrike, Kobane, October 2014
Taken on: 2014-10-26
Source: CA/ShoutWiki
Kobane Twin Explosions, Kobane Syria, October 2014
Taken on: 2014-10-08
Source: Karl-Ludwig Poggemann
ISIS Flag Atop Hill Overlooking Kobane, Oct 2014
Taken on: 2014-10-06
Source: CE/ShoutWiki
Mistenur Hill, Kobane, Oct 2014
Taken on: 2014-10-04
Source: CE/ShoutWiki
Kobane Resident Sprayed by Turkish Water Cannon, Turkey, Sept 2014
Taken on: 2014-09-22
Source: CE/ShoutWiki
Syrian Refugees Flee ISIS Offensive Kobane, Suruc Turkey, September 2014
Taken on: 2014-09-21
Source: Heike Hänsel/Flickr
Kurdish (YPG) Snipers Defending Kobane from IS Forces, July 2014
Taken on: 2014-07-11
Source: Wladimir via Wikishout
