The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that hundreds of Kurdish fighters coming from Turkey have arrived in Syria over the past few days to participate in fighting the Islamic State (IS) which has besieged Ain al-Arab, the third major Kurdish city in Syria.
The director of the Observatory, Rami Abdulrahman, explained that "at least 800 fighters coming from Turkey crossed the Syrian border during the past few days to support their brethren in Ain al-Arab (Kobani in Kurdish), which is encircled by the Islamic State. The fighters responded to a call from PKK which is outlawed in Turkey and has branches in Iran, Iraq and Syria".
Residents and fighters in Ain al-Arab, the third major Kurdish city in Syria after Qamishli and Afrin, reported that the Kurdish fighters were received them with cheers and joy.
Abdulrahman said that "they are preparing to respond to a possible attack from the Islamic State which, If took control over Ain al-Arab, will be able to connect the areas it occupies at the Syrian-Turkish border with the areas it occupies in northern and western Iraq".
"It is a decisive battle for the Kurds, because if the Islamic State took control over Ain al-Arab, it will advance more quickly toward the east, toward other Kurdish areas in Syria, such as Al-Hasakah," Abdulrahman added.
The Kurds have fought deadly clashes with the Islamic State in Syria since its inception in 2013.
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
......
