▁Ar med ▁Forces ▁also ▁launched ▁an ▁assault ▁against ▁the ▁radical ▁milit ants , ▁without ▁coordin ating ▁with ▁the ▁Kur ds . ▁ ▁Background ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁multiple ▁towns ▁and ▁villages ▁in ▁the ▁eastern ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁J az ira ▁C anton ▁came ▁under ▁I SI L ▁control . ▁On ▁ 2 3 ▁June ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁I SI L ▁expanded ▁into ▁Tell ▁B rak ▁and ▁the ▁surrounding ▁area , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁eastern ▁out sk ir ts ▁of ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Al - Has ak ah . ▁In ▁early ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁I SI L ▁launched ▁a ▁massive ▁off ensive , ▁capt uring ▁some ▁villages ▁in ▁the ▁eastern ▁J az ira ▁C anton , ▁with ▁subsequent ▁campaign s ▁expand ing ▁I SI L ▁control ▁in ▁the ▁region ▁into ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 4 . ▁In ▁mid - Dec ember , ▁the ▁Sy rian ▁Army ▁and ▁the ▁Y PG ▁engaged ▁I SI L ▁forces ▁to ▁the ▁south ▁of ▁Q am ish li , ▁capt uring ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁villages , ▁but ▁I SI L ▁respond ed ▁with ▁a ▁counter - off ensive ▁that ▁resulted ▁in ▁them ▁capt uring ▁multiple ▁villages ▁to ▁the ▁south ▁and ▁sout heast ▁of ▁Tell ▁Ma ' ruf . ▁In ▁late ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁Y PG ▁forces ▁re to ok ▁control ▁of ▁some ▁of ▁the ▁villages ▁near ▁the ▁Y ar ub iy ah - R ab ia ▁border ▁crossing ▁and ▁to ▁the