æz ʌv nˈaɪntiːn sɛptˈɛmbɚ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv, ðə tˈaʊn ʌv tˈæl ɐbɪˈæd, dᵻɹˈɛktli əkɹˌɑːs ðə bˈoːɹdɚ fɹʌmðə tˈɜːkɪʃ tˈaʊn ʌv ˈæksɐkˌeɪl, wʌz ɔːlɹˌɛdi ˌʌndɚ ɹˈɛbəl kəntɹˈoʊl.
As of 19 September 2012, the town of Tal Abyad, directly across the border from the Turkish town of Akçakale, was already under rebel control.