JINHA

KOBANÊ – After Daesh gang members infiltrated the city of Kobanê and slaughtered more than 150 civilians on Thursday, YPG/YPJ forces launched an effort to push the gangs out of the city. The forces rescued 80 civilians who Daesh had taken hostage.

In the early morning hours on Thursday, Daesh gang members attacked the city of Kobanê, part of the Rojava (Western Kurdistan) region of Syria. Daesh members first exploded a bomb-laden vehicle at the border gate with Turkey, then attacked several points in the city—including the neighborhoods of Kaniya Kurda and Botan; the Doctors Without Borders hospital; and the Hajji Reşat Mosque. Gang members, dressed in Free Syrian Army uniforms, opened fire on civilians, mostly women and children. Daesh also executed dozens of village residents near the city. The attack has claimed 152 victims so far, with many more wounded.

As clashes continued throughout the day yesterday, with YPG/YPJ forces surrounding Daesh gang members at various points in the city, Daesh gang members began taking civilians hostage to use as human shields in their defense. YPG/YPJ and Asayish (peacekeeping) forces rescued 80 civilian hostages from Daesh's hands in the operations yesterday.

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