Kurdish IS Leader Killed in Kobani.

Kurdish IS Leader Killed in Kobani. (BasNews).

A number of Islamic State (IS) militants near Kobani, Syrian Kurdistan, have been killed in clashes with People’s Protections Unit (YPG) fighters. Among them was the Kurdish Islamic State commander known as Abu Khatab.

One of his relatives, who wishes to remain anonymous , told BasNews, that Abu Khatab was from Halabja and he went to Syria a few months ago.

“His real name is Ansar Jamal and he was from Halabja, Kurdistan Region. He was 18-years-old and was studying in secondary school. In August, with one of his classmates, he went to Syria. After a few days he contacted his family and told them that he had arrived there,’ said the Abu Khatab’s relative.

“On Friday, his classmate, who went with him to Syria, informed the family of ’Abu Khatab’ that he had been killed. His funeral has been going on for two days in Halabja while his body has been buried in Syria,” said the relative.

News reports state that Abu Khatab and another man, Omar Chichani, were the leaders of IS attacks on Kobani.

From the start of Syria’s civil war, a number of youths from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have left for Syria and joined IS militants. Some of them returned to Iraq in Mosul and others have been killed.

Recently the official spokesman of the Endowment and Religious Affairs Ministry in the Kurdistan Region, Mariwan Naqshbandi, has claimed that more than 400 youths from the Kurdistan Region are among the Sunni terrorist group.

“So far 35 Kurdish youths have been killed and more than 50 youths have left the IS militants and returned to the region. Most of them have been arrested by Kurdistan Regional security. A number of them have not been freed due to the risk of them rejoining IS.”

“Before, Kurdish youths were encouraged through Mullahs and mosques to become IS militants, but now Facebook has taken on that role. IS supporters from inside and outside of the Kurdistan Region encourage Kurdish youths to join IS.”

Naqshbandi stated that tens of youths have been arrested by Kurdish security because of their use of social media, whilst many have succeeded in joining the IS group in this way. Hmmmm.....Early Christmas present for the Kurds.