JINHA

RIHA–YPG/YPJ forces are closing in on the cities of Rakka and Tel Abyad, which have been under Daesh occupation since the gang took them unopposed in its sweet of Syria and Iraq.

Daesh gangs have longregarded the cities of Tel Abyad (GirêSpî) and Rakka, located east of Kobanê, as their fortresses. Daesh took the cities virtually unopposed during their sweep of Iraq and Syria, but since they have lost nearly all of their armored tanks and heavy weapons in their routed charge on Kobanê, the cities are now under threat from the YPG and YPJ forces advancing east from Kobanê.

YPG/YPJ forces have now arrived at villages 15 kilometers from Tel Abyad. Since Daesh fled the villages of Bexdîk, Idaniyê, Xanê, Axbaş and Serzorê, they have started digging a trench around Tel Abyad. They have also been detonating the homes left behind by Kurdish and Turkmen villagers in the area.

Rakka, which had a population of 200,000 before the Daesh occupation began, first came under the control of opposition forces fighting the Assad regime in March 2013. Then, Daesh took the city without resistance in its sweep of the area.

Local sources say the occupation has drained the city's resources.The organization's main revenue sources are smuggled oil, goods looted from civiliansand ransom money for kidnapped people, say locals. They also operate a market for selling kidnapped women in the city.The occupation sustains itself mostly through plunder and the exploitation of the local population.

"Every month they collect tribute money from people, saying it's 'zakat.'They charge for electricity and water even when those get cut," said a source, who wanted to remain unnamed.

"The money that used to get you 10 packs of cigarettes now gets you one," said the source. Daesh runs the shops, forbids alcohol and cigarettes and sells all goods at exorbitant prices.

Daesh gang members from Iraq, Tunisia, Chechnya, Dagestan and Europe have begun to leave Rakka, according to the source. The Daesh gangs, who had long banned shaving, recently forcefully closed all barber shops in the city, apparently with the goal of being able to hide themselves among the civilians if the city falls.

"The people there, Arabs especially, want to see this nightmare end," said the source in Rakka.

In Tel Abyad, the Free Syrian Army, which has been working with the YPG/YPJ, has been meeting with tribal and family leaders. The city has a population of around 10,000 Arabs, 5,000 Turkmens and 5,000 Kurds. Daesh has been threatening families who meet with the Free Syrian Army, resulting in increased tension in the city.

Sources in the Akçakale area of Urfa, across the Turkish-Syrian border from Tel Abyad, report that many people have headed across the border to Turkey. Some are in fear of advancing clashes. Others are reported to be Arab families who looted the homes of Kurds as they fled Daesh during its late summer early fall advance towards Kobanê.

Tel Abyad is now surrounded on three sides: with the city of Sêrekaniyê located in the YPG/YPJ-held canton of Cizîre to its east, YPG/YPJ forces advancing from the west to within 15 kilometers of the city, and advancing YPG/YPJ forces securing a blockade to the south.

(ekip/mç/fk)