Kurdish YPG forces invade Islamic State's Raqqa stronghold

Lalish - Kurdistan - Yazidi holy city

Kurdish YPG forces have seized a hill inside the Syrian province of Raqqa, the Islamic State (Isis) Syrian stronghold, after deadly clashes.

Kurdish troops have taken Baghdak Hill south of the border town Kobani which is situated within Raqqa province. IS has been driven from Kobani by the YPG and the all-female YPJ Kurdish forces, and assisted by US-led air strikes.

YPG YPJ and FSA fighters form a joint command to attack ISIS in Raqqa

The jihadist group established its de facto capital in the city of Raqqa last year after seizing vast swaths of land straddling between Iraq and Syria. In recent months the city has been pounded by warplanes from the US-led coalition.

At least 35 IS fighters and four YPG members had been killed on Sunday (15 February) in fighting near Kobani.

The Kurds have taken over at least 163 villages around the border of Kobane, which became key in the international efforts to defeat IS. Several hundred rebel fighters joined the Kurds in their effort against the Sunni militants.

The #YPG press centre claimed that 18 Daesh / ISIS / ISIL militants were captured alive.