ISIS Militants: We Withdrew from Kobani because of the Coalition Airstrikes

In a video-clip posted on the Internet on January 30, 2015, two ISIS militants explain why the organization withdrew from Kobani. "We had captured 70% of [Kobani]," one of the militants says, "but the airstrikes destroyed it completely."

Following are excerpts:

ISIS militant: Recently, there has been a gradual withdrawal from Ayn Al-Islam [Kobani], because of the airstrikes and the killing of some of our brothers. The killing of our brothers is no loss. We believe that they have gained [Paradise]. You can see the destruction for yourself, but the Islamic State is here to stay, Allah willing. I send this message to Obama.

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Another ISIS militant: We are at the entrance to the city of Ayn Al-Islam, or Kobani. The reason for our withdrawal… We hide nothing from you… With the help of Allah, we stormed and captured over 360 villages. We destroyed the villages, and they fled like rats, Allah be praised. But the reason for our withdrawal… The reason for our withdrawal is that we could not find places to entrench ourselves. We had captured 70% of Ayn Al-Islam, but the airstrikes destroyed it completely.

Whenever the planes came, they bombed and sowed destruction with their missiles. May Allah make them a cause of their own destruction. Their missiles turned the place into a wasteland, so we were forced to withdraw. Now these rats are advancing. But they are so cowardly that they do not advance all the time. We are fending them off. We were steadfast, and we will continue to be, Allah willing. But Allah puts his servants to the test.

Allah wiling, we will attack them back. This method of attack and retreat has existed from the days of the Prophet and his companions. We will attack them back and disperse them, Allah willing. Their planes are constantly in the skies, day and night. They are bombing day and night. They are bombing everything. They are even bombing vehicles. They haven't left a single building standing. But Allah willing… Allah willing, we will attack them back. Allah willing, we will give them hell.

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