Reuters, Beirut :
A Syrian Kurdish militia said on Monday it was in near full control of the northeastern city of Hasaka, expanding its sway at the expense of the Damascus government in the wake of an Islamic State attack in the area.
Full control of Hasaka – which was split between the Kurds and Damascus until last month – would be a major gain for the autonomous Kurdish administration that is fighting Islamic State in Syria in partnership with Washington.
Islamic State launched a major attack on the city on June 25, focusing initially on government-held southern Hasaka. The ensuing battle drew in the YPG, which held northern Hasaka, resulting in the U.S.-backed Kurds fighting Islamic State in close proximity to government forces shunned by Washington.
YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said the city’s defense was now entirely in his group’s hands. “The regime has collapsed. It could not protect the city and its continuation has become symbolic in limited positions only,” he told Reuters.
A Syrian Kurdish militia said on Monday it was in near full control of the northeastern city of Hasaka, expanding its sway at the expense of the Damascus government in the wake of an Islamic State attack in the area.
Full control of Hasaka – which was split between the Kurds and Damascus until last month – would be a major gain for the autonomous Kurdish administration that is fighting Islamic State in Syria in partnership with Washington.
Islamic State launched a major attack on the city on June 25, focusing initially on government-held southern Hasaka. The ensuing battle drew in the YPG, which held northern Hasaka, resulting in the U.S.-backed Kurds fighting Islamic State in close proximity to government forces shunned by Washington.
YPG spokesman Redur Xelil said the city’s defense was now entirely in his group’s hands. “The regime has collapsed. It could not protect the city and its continuation has become symbolic in limited positions only,” he told Reuters.
