Kurds Stop Attack on Kobani, Killing Almost 60 IS Militants: Reports

Kurdish self-defense forces reportedly averted a large-scale offensive from Islamic State extremists.

BEIRUT, January 8 (Sputnik) – Kurdish self-defense forces have averted a large-scale offensive from Islamic State (IS) extremists in the eastern part of the Syrian border city of Kobani, killing 58 militants, PUKmedia news agency reported Thursday.

According to the news outlet, seven Kurds were killed in the clashes, which took place early on Thursday, and another two Kurdish fighters were injured.

Earlier it was reported that Kurdish forces liberated some districts of Kobani, where administrative and security agency buildings are located. The Kurdish forces currently control over 90 percent of the city's territory.

Kurdish self-defense forces together with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have been defending Kobani for over three months. Since IS extremists started their offensive on September 16, more than 1,200 people have died in the city and about 2,000 residents fled to neighbouring Turkey.

Syria has suffered an armed conflict since March 2011. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the death toll of the war exceeds 200,000 people. Government forces have been fighting against groups of armed militants coming from various armed formations, including Islamic State.