Kurdish forces win control of Kobani

Kurdish forces have taken full control of the Syrian town of Kobani, driving out remaining Islamic State fighters to end a four-month battle that became a focal point of the international fight against the ultra-hardline Islamist group.

Monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian Kurdish YPG forces had retaken the town, close to the Turkish border, but were still proceeding carefully in the eastern outskirts where Islamic State had planted mines before fleeing.

“I can see the YPG flag flying over Kobani. There are the sounds of jets flying above. People are dancing and singing. Everyone feels a huge sense of relief,” said Tevfik Kanat, a Turkish Kurd by phone.