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Syrian Kurds 'drive Islamic State out of Kobane' Syrian Kurds 'drive Islamic State out of Kobane'
(about 1 hour later)
Kurdish forces have driven Islamic State (IS) militants from Kobane, activists say, ending a four-month battle for the northern Syrian town. Kurdish forces have driven Islamic State (IS) militants from Kobane, officials say, ending a four-month battle for the northern Syrian town.
Fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) were said to have entered outlying areas in the east of the town after the jihadists retreated.Fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) were said to have entered outlying areas in the east of the town after the jihadists retreated.
There were reports of people dancing in the streets and of celebratory gunfire. However, the US said it was not yet prepared to declare the battle over.
The battle for Kobane was seen as a major test of the US-led coalition's strategy to combat IS with air strikes. Kobane was seen as a major test of the US-led coalition's strategy to combat IS in Syria with air strikes.
More than 160,000 people fled the mainly Kurdish town and crossed over the nearby border with Turkey after IS launched an assault in September.
The ensuing fighting has left at least 1,600 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group.
'Final clean-up'
Photographs posted on social media on Monday afternoon showed the YPG flag being flown from recaptured territory around Kobane, and male and female fighters shaking hands.
YPG spokesman Polat Jan meanwhile declared on Twitter: "Congratulations to humanity, Kurdistan, and the people of Kobane on the liberation of Kobane."
Anwar Muslim, the president of the self-declared Syrian Kurdish canton of Kobane, confirmed to the BBC that the town was fully under YPG control.
However, he added that the situation in the eastern outskirts were still "a little tense", with YPG fighters carrying out "the final clean-up" and besieging areas they believed IS leaders might be hiding.
Mr Muslim said the mood in Kobane was "very festive", and that the official liberation of the town after 131 days of resistance would be announced at a news conference shortly.
However, a US defence department spokesman declined to declare that the battle for Kobane was won.
"The battle continues. But as of now, friendly forces... I believe, have the momentum," Col Steve Warren told the Reuters news agency.
On Friday, the Pentagon said about 30% of the town was held by IS.