Kurdish fighters fly 250ft 'flag of victory' on hill over Kobane

A 75-metre long flag is being flown from a pylon atop a hill overlooking Kobane, marking the liberation of the strategic strong-point from Islamic State militants in the Syrian city.

Pictures of the eye-catching yellow, red and green TEVDEM (Movement for a Democratic Society) flag on top of Mistenur Hill, which can be seen for miles around, have been circulating on social media.

Yesterday, it was revealed Kurdish forces now control about 70 per cent of Kobane after months of fierce fighting with ISIS.

The newly-liberated hill is a seen as a dominant position over Kobane, the road to Aleppo and roads used by ISIS to bring in troops
The Kurdish forces launched an operation a month ago to rid Kobane of ISIS terrorists. 

The newly-liberated hill is a seen as a dominant position over Kobane, the road to Aleppo and roads used by ISIS to bring in troops.

Commander Kendal told Firatnews.com that YPG and YPJ forces had defended the hill when ISIS attacked in October, and the sacrifice by Arin Mirkan symbolised the heroism displayed by the Kurdish fighters there. 

She said: 'When the gangs entered the city after taking Mistenur, we declared we would turn the city into a hell for them.

'We fought in every house, every street, shed our blood and lost our comrades. But we knew we would eventually retake Mistenur and our plans have born fruit.' 

The commander said the next stage was to rid the city of ISIS gangs,
The liberated peak of Mistenur Hill in Kobane, Syria

 Biharin Kendal, a commander of the Women's Protection Units's (YPJ) - armed Kurdish fighters - told Firatnews.com the first stage of the operation to liberate the city had been completed

'We were in no doubt that we would take Mistenur, and when we did we hung up the posters of our martyrs,' he said.

'By retaking the hill we have fulfilled the wishes of Arin and our other comrades who have fallen in the struggle.'

Commander Kendal told Firatnews.com that ISIS would no longer be able to move freely on the Aleppo road or on the road leading along the border to Tel Abyad. 

She said: 'We now have control over the whole city and villages to the east and south. 

'We will now crush the gangs in the eastern neighbourhoods where they have their backs to the wall. 

'In war, when you take the most strategic point it means the end is near for the enemy.'

The morale of the Kurdish fighters is said to be at an all-time high.  

'We promise we will deliver victory to all the heroic mothers of Kurdistan who have lost children, and will continue the struggle in which our comrades have fallen to the end. 

'Kobane and the resistance will triumph,' commander Kendal added. 

Speaking yesterday, the press secretary said Kurdish forces now control about 70 per cent of Kobane, which was seen a few months ago as being near collapse, with much of it in the hands of Islamic State.
He said the advanced element of U.S. forces headed to establish training sites amounted to fewer than 100 troops.

'They're going to ... take a look at what's there and prepare for further deployments,' Kirby said.

Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have offered to host sites where U.S. forces could train members of the Syrian opposition to fight Islamic State and provide security in their home communities.  


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If I recall right, it was reported two weeks ago that the Kurds had taken 80 or 85% of Kobane.

Now Admiral Kirby says that it's 70% of Kobane.

Yes, the hill was important from a tactical and psychological point.  Yes, it's nice that there's a 250 foot streamer up.  

Cutting off the ISIS fighters and trapping them in the city is going to make for a 'fight to the death' situation that is likely to be bloody, horrible and prolonged.  Turkey is on the west.  They come from the north and east.  They claim to have cut off the south.   

I wish the Kurds luck and success with a low number of casualties.