ISIS opens counteroffensive against Syrian Kurds in Kobani, Hassakeh

ISIS is attacking Kobani, Syria, again
(Image credit: Ahmet Sik/Getty Images)

The Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, have made substantial inroads into the Syrian province of Raqqa, Islamic State's center of operations, and early Thursday, ISIS struck back. In Kobani, a Syrian border town the YPG and allied forces kicked ISIS out of in January, ISIS set off a suicide car bomb at the Turkish border crossing, then engaged Kurdish forces inside the city, according to YPG commanders, Turkish officials, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group.

"A group of fighters deployed in some areas of Kobani," YPG commander Ghalia Neeme told The Associated Press. "We are defending a position now." Turkish officials say that at least 41 people were injured in the car bomb, and one child was killed. The Observatory says that dozens of people were killed or wounded in that attack and the fighting that followed.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.