Pentagon: ISIS forced out of Kobani, a key town

The Pentagon announced Saturday that the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been officially “pushed out” of the Syrian border town of Kobani. 

“Kurdish ground forces, supported by our air component, were successful in retaking the town of Kobani, which again shows the emptiness of Daesh’s claims of invincibility,” said Lt. Gen. James Terry, commander of the Combined Joint Task Force — Operation Inherent Resolve. 

“Daesh” is a derogatory Arabic nickname for ISIS.

“The Coalition will continue to attack Daesh anywhere they present themselves,” Terry said in his statement.

{mosads}Coalition airstrikes near Kobani will continue to help Kurdish fighters push ISIS out from surrounding areas, the statement from U.S. Central Command went on. 

Kobani had been battled over for several months, after ISIS attempted to overrun the city and consolidate its position along the northern Syrian border with Turkey. The coalition began to focus airstrikes there, and the media turned their spotlight on the town as a microcosm of the broader fight against the terrorist group. 

The U.S.-led coalition has conducted over 700 airstrikes in and around Kobani, destroying over 280 ISIS fighting positions, nearly 100 ISIS buildings, more than 60 military vehicles, almost a dozen tanks, multiple weapon systems and other military equipment, Central Command said. 

“Kurdish forces on the ground, supported by aviation fires, forced ISIL from their Kobani stronghold on Jan. 27, 2015,” Central Command said, using an alternate acronym for the group.

This story was updated at 1:39 a.m.