KOBANI

Kurdish Peshmerga forces in Kobani have shelled Islamic State (IS) bases in Gre Spi, located in the north of Raqqa Province in Syria.

“On Wednesday, Peshmerga forces from three different fronts started to heavily shell IS bases in the town of Gre Spi,” Peshmerga Commander Sleman Mohammed told BasNews.

“Peshmerga forces supported Kurdish fighters to free Kobani and most of villages around the city from IS insurgents. We will support Kurdish fighters in clearing other areas in the same way.”

Mohammed said that Kurdish fighters asked the Peshmerga to shell Gre Spi so that the fighters can attack and free the Kurdish town.

“Peshmerga forces received new weapons on Tuesday and on Wednesday they started to shell the IS bases,” said Mohammed.

Gre Spi is a Kurdish town located on the Syrian Kurdistan border with Kurdish populated areas (North Kurdistan) of Turkey. According to official statistics, the population of the town is 80,000. The name has been changed to Tel Abiyaz. The town is administrated by Raqqa Province as the population encompasses both Kurds and Arabs. The town was captured by IS insurgents almost a year ago.

Gre Spi is a strategic town in Syrian Kurdistan which connects the Kurdish Cizire and Hassakah districts to Kobani. Freeing the town will open the road between the Cizire and Kobani administration cantons meaning Kobani will no longer be surrounded on all sides by IS militants.