Islamic State conflict: Kurds reclaim Ain Issa in Syria Published duration 8 July 2015

image copyright EPA image caption Ain Issa is back in Kurdish fighters' control, two days after it reportedly fell to IS

Kurdish-led fighters say they have reclaimed a town from Islamic State close to the group's northern Syrian stronghold of Raqqa.

They were supported by a female brigade, the YPJ and, the AFP agency said, by US airstrikes.

The town, only 50km (30 miles) north of Raqqa, is of strategic importance.

It is at an intersection of the main roads from Raqqa to other areas IS controls in Aleppo province, to the west, and Hassakeh province, to the east.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirmed Ain Issa was back in Kurdish fighters' hands.

In recent weeks, IS has launched several deadly counter-attacks against the Kurds.