Islamic State fighters finally admit they WERE defeated in Kobane stand-off because of US-led airstrikes

  • Islamic State fighters admit for the first time they were defeated in Kobane
  • Two militants revealed airstrikes by US-led coalition prompted withdrawal
  • Comes days after Kurdish officials said Kobane was cleared of ISIS fighters
  • US and allies launched 27 air strikes across Iraq and Syria since Friday

By Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Published: | Updated:

Members of Islamic State have admitted for the first time that they were defeated in the Syrian town of Kobane.

Airstrikes by the US-led coalition were the main reason why extremists were forced to withdraw from the town, according to two of the group's fighters.

It comes days after activists and Kurdish officials said Kobane was cleared of ISIS militants, who once held nearly half of the town.

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Final blow: Airstrikes by the US-led coalition were the main reason why extremists were forced to withdraw from the town, according to two of the group's fighters

Airstrikes by the US-led coalition were the main reason why extremists were forced to withdraw from the town, according to two of the group's fighters

Big hit: Some 13 air strikes targeted areas near Kobane in just 24 hours last week, it has been reported

Members of the Islamic State group have admitted for the first time that they were defeated in the Syrian town of Kobane

The failure to capture Kobane was a major blow to the extremists, whose hopes for an easy victory turned into a costly siege under airstrikes by coalition forces and an assault by Kurdish militiamen.

The United States and its allies have carried out 27 air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria since Friday, the Combined Joint Task Force leading the operation reported on Saturday.

Some 13 air strikes targeted areas near Kobane in just 24 hours, it was reported on Wednesday. 

Remains of the day: The failure to capture Kobane was a major blow to the extremists, whose hopes for an easy victory turned into a costly siege under airstrikes by coalition forces and an assault by Kurds

The failure to capture Kobane was a major blow to the extremists, whose hopes for an easy victory turned into a costly siege under airstrikes by coalition forces and an assault by Kurdish militiamen

The strikes around Kobane hit 12 Islamic State tactical units and a vehicle, and destroyed nine fighting positions, a staging area and three buildings, the Combined Joint Task Force said in a statement.

The Pentagon said at the time that the militants had been driven out of 90 percent of Kobane, a city near the border with Turkey where fighting has raged for four months.

Six air strikes in northern Iraq, where Islamic State has seized swathes of territory, targeted al Asad, Kirkuk, Mosul and Sinjar, hitting tactical units, a checkpoint, six buildings and six shipping containers, the task force said. 

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