Kurdish forces seize key military base from IS in Syria

Damascus, June 23 (IANS/EFE) The Kurdish People's Protection Units, with the support of US-led international coalition, have gained control of the Brigade 93 military base in the Syrian province of al-Raqqa after clashes with Islamic State (IS), the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Tuesday.

The base is located southwest of Ain Issa village, where Kurdish forces and rebel factions gained entry following the seizure of Brigade 93.

In the event Kurdish forces take control of Ain Issa, the IS first line of defence would be pushed to just outside al-Raqqa, the radical group's main stronghold in Syria.

Meanwhile, international coalition airstrikes claimed the lives of at least 26 IS militants in Ain Issa, most of whom were Syrian nationals.

--IANS/EFE

vr/dg