December 4

,

2014









On Tuesday, Colonel Sarkawt told Rudaw 150 Peshmerga fighters left Kurdistan Region as replacement to Kobani.



The coalition airstrikes have assisted YPG and Peshmerga forces in defending the autonomous Kurdish canton of Kobani in Syrian Kurdistan against IS militants who attacked the city early September and still hold parts of it.



“We have returned to our beloved Kurdistan with a heavy heart, knowing Kobani has not been liberated”, a Peshmerga who served in Kobani for nearly forty days told Rudaw.



He also said, “There’s a huge difference to the morale of Kurdish fighters in Kobani now, when we entered the besieged city, YPG control amounted to nearly 15% and now more than half of the city is under Kurdish control”.



The second group of Peshmerga arrived in Kobani late on Tuesday, the source added.



Syrian Kurdish fighters, who have been resisting Islamic State fighters in Kobani for nearly three months now, have welcomed the help of fighters who are known as Peshmergas or 'those who defy death'.



However, neither the Peshmergas nor the heavy weapons they brought, along with the U.S.-led air strikes meant to push back the Islamist fighters, have so far made significant impact to tip the balance in the battle.



Turkey has refused to take a frontline role in U.S.-led action against Islamic State, insisting that any campaign should include a strategy to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But it has allowed the Peshmergas to cross through Turkey into Kobani.

Copyright ©, respective author or news agency, Ekurd.net | Reuters | rudaw.net

