BEIRUT (AP) – A Kurdish commander and activists say Kurdish fighters are now in full control of Tal Abyad, dealing a major blow to the Islamic State group which has been entrenched there for over a year.
Haqi Kobane tells The Associated Press that Kurdish units were starting to clean up the town along the border with Turkey from booby traps and mines planted by the extremists before they left.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also confirms Tuesday that the main Kurdish fighting force, known as the YPG, has seized control of the town along with a contingent the Free Syrian Army.
The takeover of Tal Abyad robs the Islamic State group of a key supply line for their nearby self-proclaimed capital in Raqqa.