In September last year the city of Kobane emptied as residents fled for their lives ahead of a huge ISIS offensive . Four months of fighting saw fierce gun battles rage along the city 's streets while warplanes bombed it from the air . The battle to retake the town was one of IS' most important victories in Syria and Iraq, with its capture marking an end to nearly three years of jihadist rule over large parts of both
In September last year the city of Kobane emptied as residents fled for their lives ahead of a huge ISIS offensive . Four months of fighting saw fierce gun battles rage along the city 's streets while warplanes bombed it from the air . Residents are returning after ISIS troops fled in January , but as these images show , little of their home remains .