Global War on Terror (2001-present)
Abu Ghraib: The Scandal That Outlasted the War
Apr 20, 2026
The Battle of Kobani: Syrian Kurds at the Wall
1 min read · Intermediate
KobaniYPGISISSyria2014-2015
The Battle of Kobani, September 2014-January 2015. ISIS besieged the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani for four months. US airstrikes combined with YPG ground defense repelled the assault. The battle established the Syrian Kurds as the US's primary partner against ISIS.↗
In September 2014, ISIS laid siege to Kobani, a Kurdish town on the Turkish border. The YPG defended with fierce determination. The United States began airstrikes, and slowly the tide turned. Kobani became a symbol of Kurdish resistance and a turning point.
Kobani is a small city in northern Syria on the Turkish border, predominantly Kurdish. The YPG, the Kurdish militia, had controlled it for years.
In September 2014, ISIS turned its attention to Kobani. The city was strategically important as a link between Turkish territory and ISIS-held areas further east. The siege began with ISIS forces numbering perhaps 3,000 surrounding the city.
The YPG, numbering 2,000-3,000, prepared to defend through intense, urban combat. They fought from buildings, tunnels, and fortified positions, drawing on years of guerrilla training. Turkey, reluctant initially, allowed weapons and supplies to pass the border under international pressure.
The international community watched the battle unfold on television. The Kurds were fighting ISIS while the Arab world seemed unable or unwilling. America began airstrikes in support of the YPG.
The airstrikes made the difference. With air support, the YPG repelled ISIS assaults. ISIS, lacking air defenses and losing fighters rapidly, withdrew. By January 2015, the siege ended.
The city was severely damaged and thousands of civilians had fled. But the YPG held. Kobani became a symbol of Kurdish resistance and capability, and the U.S. would align with the YPG as its most effective ground partner against ISIS.
Continue Reading
