Islamic State storms Syrian city of Hassakeh

Thursday’s attack comes after the Islamic State group suffered several setbacks in northern Syria against Kurdish forces last week.

Picture shows ISIS fighters crossing the Syria-Iraq border.

Islamic State militants in Syria have stormed the government-held neighbourhoods in the predominantly Kurdish north-eastern city of Hassakeh, capturing several areas of the city.

Thursday’s attack comes after the Islamic State group suffered several setbacks in northern Syria against Kurdish forces over the past weeks. The city of Hassakeh is divided between Bashar Assad’s forces and Kurdish fighters.

Redur Khalil, a spokesman for the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, says IS militants attacked government-held neighbourhoods on the southern edge of Hassakeh, and captured some areas.

Syrian state TV reported intense clashes inside Hassakeh’s southern neighbourhood of Nashawi.

Also Thursday, IS staged a new attack on the Kurdish town of Kobani, which famously resisted a months-long assault by the Islamic militants. The attack involved a suicide car bombing that wounded scores.