KOBANI, Syria – Kurdish fighters from People’s Protection Units (YPG) backed by forces of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) have advanced towards Raqa, the Islamic State’s de facto capital in Syria.

“While having control of Ain Issa, south of the strategic city of Gire Spi, Kurdish forces and the Free Syrian Army are reportedly being deployed in areas 35km northern the city of Raqa,” Rudaw correspondent Omar Kalo said on Saturday.

“If they [anti-ISIS local forces] recapture the town of Serrin, then the canton of Kobani will be completely cleaned up from ISIS militants," Kalo has added.

The strategic ISIS stronghold of Serrin lies in the south of Kobani and is a key position north of the militant group’s pro-claimed Raqqa capital.

Commander Abu Musa spoke to Rudaw on Saturday and confirmed that “their forces are moving towards Raqa province after a series of advances achieved in Hissa village from the east, Kharbat Al-Hada village from west.”

“YPG and the Free Syrian Army have liberated Ain Issa from al-Baghdadi’s militants, and now we are in the heart of the town, “Hussein Jassim, an FSA soldier told Rudaw.

Despite days of intense fights inside Ain Issa, some of the residents refused to abandon their homes.

Mohamad Mustafa, a resident of Ain Issa, told Rudaw that when ISIS militias took control of the town, his family refused to flee.

“When they [ISIS] came all my family members were in the town. I decided to stay and no one questioned me while they were here,” he said.

Rudaw