(28 Nov 2014) After over two months doggedly fending off an Islamic State group assault on their city, the Kurdish defenders of Kobani in northern Syria and their allies say they believe they have blunted the extremists' bid to drive them out.
The Kurds have been helped by more than 270 airstrikes from a US-led coalition and believe they are now gaining momentum.
With optimism growing, their fighters say this reversal could herald the downfall of the extremists, who only a few weeks ago appeared to be unstoppable.
Islamic State group has poured fighters and resources into trying to capture the town on the border with Turkey, but so far to no avail.
Kobani has been largely inaccessible due to the IS offensive and a Turkish border blockade.
Exclusive footage shot by a video journalist who spent a week inside Kobani shows the scale of destruction.
Syrian Kurdish fighters from the YPG, the Kurdish acronym for People's Protection Units, remain wary of snipers as they move around Kobani.
But they claim they are gaining the upper hand in the battle for the shattered town.
Islamic State gunmen still lurk amid the ruins, but the Kurds say their enemy has collapsed psychologically and is now on the defensive.
Airstrikes and IS suicide bombers along with prolonged mortar fire have reduced the front lines to rubble.
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