We've all heard of the Kurdish forces' successes in the fight against Daesh (ISIS) in the northern city of Hasakah. Before and after photos posted on social media by the Institute for United Conflict Analysts (IUCA) on Saturday showed just how much territory the Kurds claimed.
The People's Protection Units (YPG) began the offensive in Hasakah against Daesh in late May. In just over two months, the forces managed to dominate the area, taking over swaths of land formerly claimed by the Syrian Arab Army.
#Syria. #Hasakah City area before and after the IS offensive. Overall territorial control. HD http://t.co/buiDcJu0mL pic.twitter.com/FQk50nCrHI
— IUCA (@IUCAnalysts) August 8, 2015The maps don't quite capture the bigger picture. While it looks a little more like a defeat for the SAA than for Daesh, it's the same territory that the extremists had their eyes on — and likely would have claimed — had Kurdish forces not stepped in.
It's also important to remember the SAA and Kurds have often been fighting together against Daesh. Regime-affiliated websites claim it was the SAA who cleared the area of Daesh, while other outlets say the YPG and government forces fought together.
In the end, data shows it's the Kurdish fighters who are overwhelmingly in control of the area.
Here's the GIF:
By Hayat Norimine
