Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Al Qaida’s most powerful militia has been driven out of the Kurdish enclave in northern Syria.

The Syrian opposition reported that Al Qaida’s Islamic State of Iraq and Levant sustained a major defeat by Kurdish militias this month.

The opposition said the Kurdish force, called Committees for the Protection of the Kurds, known as YPG, expelled ISIL from more than 20 communities along the Syrian border with Turkey.

“The Committees for the Protection of the Kurds have taken over the Manajeer area, scene of battles with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, Al Nusra Front and other rebel groups,” the Syrian Observatory for
Human Rights said.

In a statement on Nov. 5, Syrian Observatory said YPG restored Kurdish control around the strategic border town of Ras Al Ein. The British-based opposition group said the Kurds also captured a key Iraqi border point.

“They [Al Qaida] have now lost their last remaining positions in the
countryside of Ras Al Ein,” Syrian Observatory said.

The opposition said ISIL and Nusra fled to positions around the
northeastern city of Raqa, the only provincial capital not under the control
of the regime of President Bashar Assad. Sources said ISIL was expected to
organize for another offensive against the Kurdish enclave.

  Committees for the Protection of the Kurds, Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, Kurds kick Al Qaida militia out of Syria-Turkey border area, Ras Al Ein, Syrian Observatory for Human Rights