IS captures Syria’s Kobane in fresh operations

Beirut

The Islamic State group launched a two-pronged offensive in northern Syria today after several setbacks, re-entering the symbolic battleground town of Kobane and seizing parts of the city of Hasakeh.

In southern Syria, an alliance of rebel groups, including Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, also attacked government-held areas of the city of Daraa in another potentially serious blow to the regime.

Kobane, on the border with Turkey, became an important symbol in the battle against IS after the group launched a bid to take it last year.

Kurdish forces backed by US-led air strikes waged a four-month battle to repel the group, finally securing the town in January.

But today, the jihadists returned, detonating a suicide car bomb near the border crossing adjacent to Kobane as they launched an assault.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said at least 35 civilians and Kurdish fighters were killed in the car bomb and subsequent fighting in the centre of the town, along with eight IS militants.

In a statement posted on jihadist forums, IS said its fighters exploded "several" suicide bombs around Kobane, and "carried out multi-pronged attacks on several fronts" in the surrounding countryside.