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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, officials 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.
However, the US said it was not yet prepared to declare the battle over.However, the US said it was not yet prepared to declare the battle over.
Kobane was seen as a major test of the US-led coalition's strategy to combat IS in Syria 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.
Tens of thousands of people fled the town and crossed over the nearby border with Turkey after IS launched an assault in September. Tens of thousands of people fled over the nearby border with Turkey after IS launched an offensive in September, capturing about 300 nearby villages before entering the predominantly Kurdish town itself.
The ensuing fighting has left at least 1,600 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group. The fighting has left at least 1,600 people dead, among them 1,196 jihadists, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says.
'Final clean-up''Final clean-up'
Photographs posted on social media on Monday afternoon showed the YPG flag being flown around Kobane, and male and female fighters shaking hands. As night fell, celebratory gunfire echoed across the town.Photographs posted on social media on Monday afternoon showed the YPG flag being flown around Kobane, and male and female fighters shaking hands. As night fell, celebratory gunfire echoed across the town.
YPG spokesman Polat Jan meanwhile declared on Twitter: "Congratulations to humanity, Kurdistan, and the people of Kobane on the liberation of Kobane."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, told the BBC that the town was fully under YPG control. Anwar Muslim, the president of the self-declared Syrian Kurdish canton of Kobane, told the BBC that the town was fully under the control of the YPG and Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters who were deployed in October.
However, he added that the situation in the eastern outskirts was still "a little tense", with YPG fighters carrying out "the final clean-up" and besieging areas they believed IS leaders might be hiding.However, he added that the situation in the eastern outskirts was 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. A US defence department spokesman refrained from saying the battle for Kobane had been won.
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."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. The advance by Kurdish forces came after several days of heavy aerial bombardment by coalition aircraft.
The BBC's Paul Wood in Beirut says this setback for IS does not necessarily mean the jihadist group is losing overall. The Pentagon said it had carried out 17 air strikes in the 24 hours from the morning of 25 January, targeting IS "tactical units" and "fighting positions", as well as vehicle and staging areas.
Syrian opposition sources say IS actually has more territory under its control now than when the US and its allies started bombing its positions in neighbouring Iraq in August, a month before they began in Syria. The retired US general co-ordinating the coalition, John Allen, predicted in November that IS would "impale itself" on Kobane, and analysts said its loss would be a symbolic and strategic blow for the group, which wants to control an uninterrupted stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border.
However, the BBC's Paul Wood in Beirut says this setback for IS does not necessarily mean the jihadist group is losing overall.
Syrian opposition sources say IS actually controls more territory now than when the US and its allies started bombing its positions in neighbouring Iraq in August, a month before they began in Syria.
The Iraqi military announced earlier on Monday that IS had been pushed out of the eastern province of Diyala, but the group has made gains to control most of the western province of Anbar, our correspondent adds.The Iraqi military announced earlier on Monday that IS had been pushed out of the eastern province of Diyala, but the group has made gains to control most of the western province of Anbar, our correspondent adds.