Kobani

Sep 15, 2014-present

Strategic Context
The Syrian Civil War began in March 2011 and quickly become a complicated mess as the number of factions involved
multiplied. The Kurdish armed wing in Syria, the Peoples Protection Unit (YPG), largely sided with moderate rebel
factions such as the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and fought against Bashar al-Assads government troops and Islamic
extremist factions such as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). In spring 2014, ISIS made sweeping advances in
Iraq and Syria, becoming the YPGs main adversary as it captured parts of Syrian Kurdistan. In July 2014, ISIS set its
sights on Kurdish-held Kobani, a city along the Turkey-Syria border. The Turkish government is uneasy about the
strength of the YPG and the overall Kurdish Democratic Union party (PYD) which unites Kurds in across the region,
including those in Turkey. The PYD and others have accused Turkey of aiding ISIS along the Turkey-Syria border.
Turkeys position was further complicated in September when the United States-led Coalition intervened with airstrikes
to degrade and destroy ISIS in Syria and Iraq. By November, up to 3,000 ISIS and 40 tanks besiege Kobani, held by
2,000 YPG backed by Coalition aircraft.

Stakes

+ An ISIS victory would consolidate its

control of the Turkey-Syria border,
establish a land connection between
Jarablus and Tel Abyad, and weaken the
Coalitions credibility and resolve.
+ A YPG victory would preserve the
Kurdish autonomy project in Syrian
Kurdistan.
By Jonathan Webb,

Syria Dec 7, 2014

Kobani, a former city of 40,000 people 2x3km in size, lays just south of the fortified Turkey-Syria border. The city features narrow streets and
buildings up to five stories high, making any combat difficult. Kobani is surrounded by a number of smaller towns in its suburbs, offering the
only cover outside the city. There are six roads leading into Kobani, the largest being in the south and west. There are five elevated areas
around Kobani, the most significant being Mishtenur Hill in the south, which offers a commanding view of the battlefield. To the north of
Mursitpunar, the ground also slopes upwards, giving the Turkish side a good view of the city. The key terrain of the battlefield is the border
crossing; it is the YPGs lifeline for supplies and reinforcements, and ISIS overall objective for dominating the region.
TURKEY
YPG & allies
Turks
Mursitpunar

(various)

Border Point

Tell Shair

(Erdogan)

Grain silos
Haj Rashad Mosque

SYRIA
Tall Shair

Souq al-Hal

Hill

Prison
Public Park

Koban / Ayn
al-Arab

Tell Arab-Pinar

Lovers
Forest

Mazraat
Amud

Azadi Square
Sharia School

Hospital

48th Street
Al Hurriya
Square

Mazraah
Saghir

Cultural
Center

Minaze
Tirmuk
Bijan
Aleppo Road
Mishtenur
Hill

ISIS
(Abu Khattab)

Radio Tower

Qarah
Halinj

Dec 10-16 is characterized by more sporadic fighting, and continuing shelling and 22x Coalition airstrikes. In the east, ISIS attempts to infiltrate YPG lines
near the Cultural Center Dec 10, 14 and 15, which the YPG repel. ISIS also continues to probe YPG positions near the border crossing Dec 12 with confused
reporting of a suicide attack nearby. Overall, the YPG extend their control slightly in the east with small-scale operations, helped by consistent Coalition
airstrikes in the city and roads leading into it. In the south. the YPG continue to extend patrols south, cutting the Aleppo-Tirmuk road. The south sees
consistent combat throughout the period involving heavy weapons on both sides. YPG advances are supported by Peshmerga artillery and Coalition
airstrikes. On Dec 16, ISIS targets Kobani civilians with 50x shells, killing 3x civilians in apparent frustration. Casualties among fighters during this period
are very unclear however.

TURKEY

YPG & allies

Turks

Mursitpunar

(various)
Tell Shair

Border Point

SYRIA

Tall Shair

YPG & allies

Infantry

Hill

Artillery
Shelling

Prison

Koban / Ayn
al-Arab

Tell Arab-Pinar

Armour

Azadi Square

Shelling

Hospital
Al Hurriya
Square

Mazraah
Saghir

Souq al-Hal

Infantry
Lovers
Forest

Mazraat
Amud

Sharia School
48th Street

Suicide vest
CarCultural
bomb (inc. suicide)
Center

Minaze
Coalition

Airstrike

Turks
Tirmuk
Aleppo Road

Symbol guide

Mechanized infantry
Minefield

Landmarks

(Abu Khattab)

Haj Rashad Mosque

ISIS

Public Park

ISIS

(Erdogan)

Grain silos

Dec 10-16

Mishtenur
Hill

www.theartofbattle.co
Radio Tower

Qarah
Halinj

The Art of Battle:

Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb,