Two members of the YPK, the Kurdish "Women's Defence Units," on the front lines south of Al-Houl, in Al-Hassakeh province.
Two members of the YPK, the Kurdish "Women's Defence Units," on the front lines south of Al-Houl, in Al-Hassakeh province.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
Officials say more than 70% of the buildings in the Syrian city of Kobani have been damaged or destroyed. Kurdish officials say they've already removed 1.6 million tons of rubble.
Officials say more than 70% of the buildings in the Syrian city of Kobani have been damaged or destroyed. Kurdish officials say they've already removed 1.6 million tons of rubble.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
The Muhajar brothers -- Yusif, 3, Mustafa, 8, and Ali, 11 -- in front of their partially destroyed house in Kobani. As someone pointed out to CNN's Ben Wedeman, the expressions from youngest to oldest go from smiling to frowning.
The Muhajar brothers -- Yusif, 3, Mustafa, 8, and Ali, 11 -- in front of their partially destroyed house in Kobani. As someone pointed out to CNN's Ben Wedeman, the expressions from youngest to oldest go from smiling to frowning.
Ben Wedeman/CNN
A young resident of Al-Houl, whose extended family of 40 is hoping to return home. They're staying in other abandoned homes a few kilometers away. Kurdish officials say most of the residents of Al-Houl fled with ISIS.
A young resident of Al-Houl, whose extended family of 40 is hoping to return home. They're staying in other abandoned homes a few kilometers away. Kurdish officials say most of the residents of Al-Houl fled with ISIS.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
More Kobani ruins. They go on block after block after block.
More Kobani ruins. They go on block after block after block.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
A sign left by ISIS on the main street in Al-Houl urging -- or perhaps better, ordering -- women to be completely veiled.
A sign left by ISIS on the main street in Al-Houl urging -- or perhaps better, ordering -- women to be completely veiled.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
A young resident of Kobani. She stood by her father, Mustafa Ismail, who watched silently for hours as a bulldozer hauled away the remains of his three-story house.
A young resident of Kobani. She stood by her father, Mustafa Ismail, who watched silently for hours as a bulldozer hauled away the remains of his three-story house.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
Mustafa Ismail, a construction worker, tells CNN's Ben Wedeman: "I worked thirty years to build this house, and it was destroyed in a matter of seconds. What can we do? We have to rebuild."
Mustafa Ismail, a construction worker, tells CNN's Ben Wedeman: "I worked thirty years to build this house, and it was destroyed in a matter of seconds. What can we do? We have to rebuild."
Kareem Khadder/CNN
17-year-old Hamouda is a Kobani resident whose hobby is raising pigeons -- a pastime banned by ISIS because it's a waste of time. He fled with his family to Turkey across the border during the five-month battle for Kobani.
17-year-old Hamouda is a Kobani resident whose hobby is raising pigeons -- a pastime banned by ISIS because it's a waste of time. He fled with his family to Turkey across the border during the five-month battle for Kobani.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
The view from Hammouda's pigeon perch. The reconstruction effort in Kobani has come to a screeching halt after Turkey closed its border, depriving the town of the building materials it desperately needs.
The view from Hammouda's pigeon perch. The reconstruction effort in Kobani has come to a screeching halt after Turkey closed its border, depriving the town of the building materials it desperately needs.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
These children stopped playing on top of the ruins of a school to pose for this photo. They thought the CNN crew were funny. They laughed.
These children stopped playing on top of the ruins of a school to pose for this photo. They thought the CNN crew were funny. They laughed.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
Despite the destruction, Kobani residents are trying revive their town. Businesses are reopening and people are returning to what's left of their homes.
Despite the destruction, Kobani residents are trying revive their town. Businesses are reopening and people are returning to what's left of their homes.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
Ali Mattar, a farmer, wants to return to his home in Al-Houl and resume a normal life. "I can't understand why we aren't allowed home," he said. A Kurdish official assured him as soon as the town is cleared of mines and booby traps, he will be able to do so.
Ali Mattar, a farmer, wants to return to his home in Al-Houl and resume a normal life. "I can't understand why we aren't allowed home," he said. A Kurdish official assured him as soon as the town is cleared of mines and booby traps, he will be able to do so.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
ISIS' courthouse in Al-Houl, previously a school. The building also housed offices for an ISIS charity, with empty boxes marked "shoes" sent from an Islamic charity in Durban, South Africa.
ISIS' courthouse in Al-Houl, previously a school. The building also housed offices for an ISIS charity, with empty boxes marked "shoes" sent from an Islamic charity in Durban, South Africa.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
Ben Wedeman interviewing an Armenian store owner in Al-Qamishli, one of the last cities in Syria to have been spared widespread death, destruction, and the sting of sectarian strife. He employs a Muslim Arab refugee from Dair Al-Zour who fled ISIS, which controls most of that city.
Ben Wedeman interviewing an Armenian store owner in Al-Qamishli, one of the last cities in Syria to have been spared widespread death, destruction, and the sting of sectarian strife. He employs a Muslim Arab refugee from Dair Al-Zour who fled ISIS, which controls most of that city.
Kareem Khadder/CNN
Lewand Rojava, a 35-year old commander of the Kurdish YPG, the Peoples' Defense Units -- arguably the most effective fighting force in the war on ISIS in Syria.
Lewand Rojava, a 35-year old commander of the Kurdish YPG, the Peoples' Defense Units -- arguably the most effective fighting force in the war on ISIS in Syria.
Kareem Khadder/CNN