Kurds Declare Victory in Kobani

Kurdish fighters in the Syrian border town of Kobani claimed victory in their months-long battle with ISIS forces, reported the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. Kobani official Idres Nassan declared that the city is now “100% cleared” of ISIS fighters, according to the newspaper. The news came one day after US Central Command confirmed that Kobani was almost entirely in Kurdish hands and congratulated the “courageous” Kurdish fighters for denying ISIS one of its “strategic objectives.” On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters that airstrikes are expected to continue in and around the city as enemy targets present themselves. Further, indications are ISIS has not given up on attempts to take the city, he said. ISIS still controls villages and land routes from Kobani. Kirby did not comment on whether Kurdish fighters had expanded their control beyond the city. Airstrikes, combined with the Kurdish fighters in the city, “helped a lot” to drive back ISIS, he said. Kurdish feedback made it possible for the US-led coalition to “fine tune” the air strikes against ISIS positions, said Kirby. (Kirby tran?script)