Syrian Kurds seize Tal Abyad

Syrian Kurds seize Tal Abyad –

Tal Abyad is one of the most important border gates for ISIS

BBC – Syrian Kurdish fighters say they have taken control of the Islamic State-held town of Tal Abyad, cutting off a major supply route for the jihadist group.

Reinforcements are being sent by the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) to help secure the main road south to Islamic State’s headquarters at Raqqa.

The fighting has prompted thousands of civilians to flee to nearby Turkey.

This is not the first time Syrian Kurdish forces dealt a blow to Islamic State. But if the Kurdish YPG manages to hold on to Tal Abyad, it will be the most serious one.

The border town, which lies 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Raqqa, the self-declared capital of the Islamic State, is one of the most important border gates for the extremist group.

Syrian Kurdish forces have already shown they can be a match for IS during their resistance in the nearby border town of Kobane.