Author: Marianne
Kurdish Women Fighters
The Kobane Siege
A timeline of reports – July 2014 – June 2015
The battle of Kobane was epic! Not even George RR Martin or JRR Tolkien could create this and this was reality! This was the turning point in Syria for the Kurds, for Syria and for the coalition war against ISIS/Daesh. The Kurds of Kobane demonstrated amazing courage and resilience while being surrounded by ISIS from three sides. Turkey lay on the North and didn’t lift a finger to help. They still severely restrict aid from coming into Kobane even a year later. This has made rebuilding quite a challenge.
I’ll post links blow to reports in chronological order as it went down. They will show how this battle became a model for success in the fight against Daesh, setting a precedent for a pattern of successes and it will demonstrate the strength of spirit and heroism that Kurds deserve to be honored for.
I don’t claim to be an expert on the Kurdish groups or military strategy. I’m simply a witness from a far.
May 2014
BBC did much of the work already in putting together a timeline of Kobane: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29688108
Map of North Syria : May, 2014
Yellow = Kurdish Cantons/Regions
Blue = ISIS aka Daesh
Green = Other Rebel Groups
Pink: Assad Regime forces
Kurdistan National Congress: Canton Based Democratic Autonomy of Rojava (Western Kurdistan – Northern Syria): A Transformation Process from Dictatorship to Democracy
May 10, 2014
Syrian Kurdish Leader Visits Turkey as ISIS Advances on Kobane
By Jonathon Burch, Rudaw
May 11, 2014
Kobane official calls for more outside help to defeat ISIS
By Sharmila Devi, Rudaw
May 12, 2014
Kurdish forces stop ISIS attack in Kobane
By Rudaw
May 25, 2014
ISIL executes Kurdish man near Syria’s Kobane, cutting off his head
By Ahmed Salim, ARA News
June 2014
Map by @arabthomness
June 6, 2014
Many Displaced as ISIS Attacks Syrian Kurdish Villages with Heavy Artillery
Via Rudaw.com
June 10, 2014
Kurdish Female Commander in Kobane Kills Militants in Suicide Attack
Via Rudaw.com
June 10, 2014
Syrian Kurds blame Turkey for backing ISIS militants
By Amberin Zaman Via al-monitor.com
June 10, 2014
Statement by HDP (People’s Democratic Party of Turkey) on Developments in Rojava
Via HDP, @HDPenglish
June 21, 2014
Kidnapped Kurdish school children are being taught to be Jihadists by ISIS
Via mcclatchydc.com
June 24, 2014
Kurdish refugees from Kobane said they were terrorized by the Turkish border guards
Via aranews.net
July 2014
Map by @arabthomness
July 7, 2014
Kobane Under Intense ISIS Attack, Excluded from UN Humanitarian Aid
By Harvey Morris, Rudaw
July 8, 2014
ISIS Now Attacking Kobanê On Three Sides
Rojavareport.wordpress.com
July 10, 2014
Kurds to Obama: Save Kobane
By Osamah Golpy, Rudaw
July 11, 2014
Turkish troops kill Kurdish activist at Kobane border
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
July 15, 2014
Kurds enter Syria from Turkey to fight jihadists
By AFP via Yahoo
July 16, 2014
Hundreds of Turkey Kurds enter Syria Kurdistan to fight ISIS
By KurdPress
July 18, 2014
While Iraq burns, Isis takes advantage in Syria
By Michael Stephens & Sofia Barbarani, BBC.com
July 18, 2014
Kurds struggle to unify against ISIS
By Nalan Sipar, DW.com
July 18, 2014
Kurds join forces in northern Syria to repel advances made by Islamic State militants in the region
By i24news.com
July 22, 2014
ISIS Is Using Its Captured Iraqi Weapons Against the Kurds in Syria
by Mutlu Civiroglu @MutludC, Vice News
August 2014
Map by @arabthomness
August 7, 2014
Obama authorizes ‘targeted airstrikes’ in Iraq to counter militants
By Jim Sciutto, Catherine E. Shoichet and Barbara Starr, CNN
August 11, 2014
A U.S.-designated terrorist group (PKK) is saving Yazidis and battling the Islamic State
By Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post
August 13, 2014
US forces reportedly helping Kurds and Yazidis against ISIS at Mount Sinjar, Iraq (near Syrian border)
The Irish Times
August 15, 2014
Mapping Syria
By Thomas Van Linge, @arabthomness on Twitter.
August 28, 2014
Obama’s statement about Ukraine, Syria and Economy: Video and Transcript
September 2014
Map by @arabthomness
Sept. 1:
Saleh Muslim, Co-chairman of the PYD (Kurdish Democratic Union Party in Syria), released a letter on behalf of the people who live in the cantons of Rojava to mark the World Peace:
http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/saleh-muslim-calls-on-world-public-to-break-down-the-wall-of-silence/
Full letter by Saleh Muslim:
http://www.kurdishinstitute.be/to-the-international-community-to-the-members-of-the-united-nations-to-all-international-aid-organisations/
Sept 5:
Obama holds press conference at NATO Summit:
Sept. 11:
Petreus Backs Obama on ISIL:
Sept. 11:
White House posts Fact Sheet about its Strategy to counter ISIS/ISIL:https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/09/10/fact-sheet-strategy-counter-islamic-state-iraq-and-levant-isil
Sept 11:
Analysis: YPG – the Islamic State’s worst enemy
http://www.janes.com/article/43030/analysis-ypg-the-islamic-state-s-worst-enemy
Sept 12:
Foreign Policy: Meet the Badass Women Fighting ISIS/ISIL
Sept 12:
YPG and FSA form a joint military unit to combat ISIS in Syria
Sept 13 – Jan 26
Progression of the Kobane Battle Map
Sept 14 – 27
1 Map showing ISIS closing in on Kobane fast, taking much of the canton, reaching city edge:
Sept 15:
Video: Americans join Kurdish Peshmerga to fight barbaric ISIS
PBS News Hour via Youtube
Sept 15:
YPG liberate 14 villages from ISIS:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/ypg-liberate-14-villages-from-isis
Sept 15:
Heavy clashes between YPG and ISIS:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/heavy-clashes-between-ypg-and-isis
Sept: 15:
Over 30 civilians massacred by ISIS in Tel Hamis, Rojava
http://en.firatajans.com/news/over-30-civilians-massacred-by-isis-in-tel-hamis
Sept 15:
ISIS Attacks Kobane canton:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Koban%C3%AE
Sept 17:
Fierce clashes on three fronts in Kobane:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/fierce-clashes-on-three-fronts-in-kobane
Sept 18:
Kurds call for US air strikes as 133 children from Kobani, on the Turkish border
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/islamic-state-the-world-cares-nothing-for-syrian-city-under-isis-siege-9742165.html
Sept 18:
ISIL seizes 21 Kurdish villages in northern Syria, close in on Kobane
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/isil-seizes-21-kurdish-villages-in-northern-syria-close-in-on-kobane.aspx?PageID=238&NID=71876&NewsCatID=352
Sept 19:
Saleh Muslim issues another statement “Whoever is going to do something for Kobanê must do it now”:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/muslim-whoever-is-going-to-do-something-for-kobane-must-do-it-now
Sept 19:
YPG statement over clashes in Kobane since Sept 15:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/ypg-86-gang-members-killed-in-kobane
Sept 20:
Children and women evacuated from 100 villages in Kobanê canton:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/children-and-women-evacuated-from-100-villages-in-kobane
Sept 20:
Thousands flock to Kobane border:
http://en.firatajans.com/news/thousands-continue-to-flock-to-kobane-border
Sept 21:
A thousand people cross to Kobanê to fight ISIS
http://en.firatajans.com/news/a-thousand-people-cross-to-kobane-to-fight-isis
Sept 21:
Pic: Kurdish lady ties kids to herself with a rope. She fears losing them as she flees ISIS offensive in Kobane (by Jenan Moussa)
Sept 22:
UN refugee agency says Turkey urgently needs help to care for 130,000 Syrian refugees who have crossed the border in recent days as IS fighters are reported to be closing in on the Syrian town of Kobane. The US has said it will attack the group in Syria, though so far it has carried out air strikes against IS only in Iraq.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29314647
Sept 23: Obama delivers a statement at the Arab Coalition Leaders Meeting
https://m.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2014/09/23/president-obama-delivers-statement-arab-coalition-leaders-meeting
Sept 23:
Obama: Coalition Against ISIS Shows ‘This Is Not America’s Fight Alone’:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/09/23/350877632/obama-coalition-against-isis-shows-it-is-not-americas-fight-alone
Sept 23:
Kurdish-Arab Rebel Alliance May be Key to Obama’s Syrian Strategy
http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/kurdish-arab-rebel-alliance-may-be-key-to-obama-s-syrian-strategy#.VCG0X29_sok.twitter
Sept 23:
1st video of US air strikes against ISIS targets in Raqqa, Syria shortly after they started posted by activists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGVNL7Kg–c …
Sept 23:
Obama’s Coalition starts airstrikes in Syria:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29321236?ocid=socialflow_twitter
Sept 23:
Arab countries in the region join coalition strikes and/or fund strikes against IS
(Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait)
http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140923/defreg04/309230036/mideast-countries-play-major-role-islamic-state-strikes/
Sept 25:
Kobane Residents Remain Defiant as Islamic State Closes In
https://news.vice.com/article/kobane-residents-remain-defiant-as-islamic-state-closes-in
Sept 25:
Why ISIS wants to conquer Kobane:
http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/articles/2014-09-25/islamic-state-will-tighten-its-rule-by-capturing-kobane
Sept 26:
Kurds Plead for Help in Kobane Against ISIS Forces
http://militaryvideos.com/kurds-plead-for-help-in-kobane-against-isis-forces
Sept 27:
Kobane: Heroic defence resists ‘Islamic State’ assault
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/57437
Sept 27:
BBC: US-led air strikes hit IS at Kobane, on Syria’s border with Turkey:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29390781
Sept 27:
Rudaw: First Coalition Airstrikes Hit Kobane Outskirts
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/27092014
Sept 27:
WaPo: Airstrikes carried out against Islamic State in battle for Kobane
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/in-syria-airstrikes-carried-out-against-islamic-state-in-battle-for-kobane/2014/09/27/0250a362-4649-11e4-b47c-f5889e061e5f_story.html
Sept 27:
AlJazeera on the airstrikes in Kobane:
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/9/27/air-strikes-hit-islamicstatemilitantsineastsyria.html
Sept 28:
Besieged people of Kobane plead for weapons
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-in-syria-besieged-people-of-kobane-plead-dont-send-us-food-or-aid-send-us-weapons-9760095.html
Sept 29:
Turkey stops Kurds from entering Syria to fight IS:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29415142
By BBC
October 2014
Map by @arabthomness
Oct 1:
Fighting on Turkish border as Kurds with US air support battle to defend key Syria town (Kobane) from ISIL:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11133351/Fighting-on-Turkish-border-as-Kurds-with-US-air-support-battle-to-defend-key-Syria-town-from-Isil.html
Oct 1:
Video report from the BBC: Two weeks in, Shelling of ‘besieged’ Kobane goes on. But some fear it’s not enough.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29452760
Oct 2:
Coalition Air strikes pounded terrorists around Kobane “We did not know the size of losses until now”
It was around this time that I was on the phone with Centcom’s public relations office telling them it wasn’t enough, that Kobane was going to fall if they didn’t step up the airstrikes.
Oct 3:
YPG Press Release: https://twitter.com/Alexblx/status/518342277199298560
Oct 3:
Joe Biden speaks bluntly about Turkey’s and others’ support for ISIS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLYTG2kCUu0
Oct 4:
Reporter Jenan Moussa (who was on the Turkish side of the border at the time) said her and fellow reporters were teargassed by Turkish army at border close to Kobane: https://www.facebook.com/jenan.moussa.5/posts/10154867593680508
Oct 5:
Arin Mirkan: Female Kurdish Soldier Overtaken By ISIS Blows Herself Up, Killing Several Jihadists
Nathan Francis, Inquisitr
Oct 5:
Coalition Airstrikes on Kobane averaging 4-5 per day. Still a slow ramp-up:
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/fails-take-kobane-airstrikes-kill-more-five-fighters-371060255
Oct 5:
Kurdish female fighter in suicide attack on Isil amid fighting for key Syria town
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11142226/Kurdish-female-fighter-in-suicide-attack-on-Isil-amid-fighting-for-key-Syria-town.html
Telegraph/AFP
Oct 6:
Kurdish mother-of-two launches suicide attack to slow Islamic State advance in desperate battle for Kobane
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2782092/Mystery-surrounds-fate-Kurdish-female-fighter-poster-girl-reports-emerge-killed-bullet-avoid-taken-hostage-ISIS.html
DailyMail, John Hall and Larisa Brown
Oct 6:
Guardian: Syrian Kurds say airstrikes not doing enough:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/05/air-strikes-isis-not-working-syrian-kurds
Oct 7:
Kurdish female suicide bomber revealed to be mother of two
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/10/07/Kurdish-female-suicide-bomber-revealed-to-be-mother-of-two.html
Al Arabiya
Oct 8:
US Steps Up Airstrikes Near Kobane to 7-8 per day
EA Worldview
Oct 8:
Reporter Jenan Moussa on the ground: “Kurdish fighters say planes helped to stop ISIS advancing. But not enough to push them back.” https://twitter.com/jenanmoussa/status/519913455550078976
Oct 10:
News.com.au: US-led coalition ramps up air strikes in Kobane, Syria. 20 airstrikes in 2 days:
http://www.news.com.au/world/asia/usled-coalition-ramps-up-air-strikes-in-kobane-syria/story-fnh81fz8-1227085837395
Oct 11:
In memory of Arin Mirkan
http://kurdishquestion.com/oldsite/index.php/insight-research/analysis/in-memory-of-arin-mirkan/288-in-memory-of-arin-mirkan.html
Kurdish Question
Oct 11:
Telegraph: Kurdish fighters push back Islamic State in Kobane
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11155751/Kurdish-fighters-push-back-Islamic-State-in-Kobane.html
Oct 13:
Jenan Moussa: ISIS admits to selling and enslaving Yazidi women:
Oct 13:
Turkey agrees to let Washington use its bases including Incirlik for the air campaign. Female YPJ fighters filmed firing at Islamic State jihadists (Headline says Peshmerga, but I’m pretty sure that’s a mistake. I think they’re confusing Peshmerga with YPG).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11158970/Inside-Kobane-female-Peshmerga-fighter-filmed.html
Oct 14:
Bloomberg: Turkey Army Hits PKK Targets as Unrest Over Kobane Deepens
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-10-14/turkish-jets-in-first-strikes-since-pkk-peace-talk-says-hurriyet
Oct 15:
Jon Stewart: The Daily Show: Turkey denies access to airbase and bombs Kurds. He says it best:
http://thedailyshow.cc.com/video-playlists/n76v2p/the-daily-show-20011-highlights/4qdeys
Oct 15:
Chicago Tribune: Airstrikes on Kobane step up. General John Allen: “Clearly … given the circumstances associated with the defense of that town, there was a need for additional fire support to go in to try to relieve the defenders and to buy some white space, ultimately, for the reorganization on the ground. We have picked up the tempo and the intensity of the air strikes in order to provide that white space.”:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-islamic-state-airstrikes-kobani-20141015-story.html#page=1
Oct 15:
World Bulletin: Kurds five coordinates for Kobani Airstrikes:
http://www.worldbulletin.net/world/146295/kurds-give-coordinates-for-kobani-air-strikes
Oct 15:
Daily Mail: The great Kobane fightback: After symbolic recapture of hill with black flag of ISIS, Kurdish fighters take back swathes of city as US step up airstrikes:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2793880/the-great-kobane-fightback-symbolic-recapture-hill-black-flag-isis-kurdish-fighters-swathes-city-step-airstrikes.html#ixzz3eOoAQqnq
Oct 16:
BBC: Islamic State: What has Kobane battle taught us?
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29650588
Oct 16:
Reuters: US State Dept held direct talks with Syrian Kurdish group in Syria
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/16/us-mideast-crisis-usa-kurds-idUSKCN0I52F520141016?irpc=932
Oct 17:
Rojava Report Blog: Interview With YPG Commander: ISIS Has Lost In Kobanê
https://rojavareport.wordpress.com/2014/10/17/interview-with-ypg-commander-isis-has-lost-in-kobane/
Oct 19:
“Kurdish journo in Kobane @arahmangok reports that ISIS carried out the attack last evening after another 400 ISIS arrived to eastern front.”
Oct 19:
Press Release from CentCom: AIRDROPS ARRIVE!
Oct 20:
Foreign Policy: U.S. Ramps Up Push to Save Key Syrian Town – Air drops Aid
http://linkis.com/atfp.co/fKox2
Oct 20:
Dr. Welat, working in #Kobane, says medical supplies airdropped by USA are very important, but will only last about a week.
Oct 22:
CentCom Press Release:
Oct 23:
Newsweek: Inside Kobane: The Diary of a Siege
http://www.newsweek.com/2014/10/24/kobane-diary-four-days-inside-city-keeping-incredible-and-unprecedented-277509.html
Oct 28:
Footage of airstrikes on Kobane, refugees on Turkish side watching their own home get bombed, applaud. Battle for city ongoing.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/islamic-state/11193147/Explosions-and-smoke-in-Kobane-as-Kurdish-fighters-battle-Islamic-State.html
By Oct 30, nearly half of Kobane had been taken by ISIS but YPG started to gain ground back after this:
November 2014
Map by @arabthomness
Nov 1:
Peshmerga in Kobane and ‘ready to fight’
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/01112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
Nov 1:
Peshmerga in Kobane fire rockets at ISIL
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/11/iraqi-kurds-prepare-battle-isil-kobane-2014111134542239919.html
Al Jazeera
Nov. 1:
Peshmerga in Kobane write another page of Kurdish history
http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/01112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Harvey Morris, Rudaw
Nov 1:
Erdogan lashes out at ‘double standards’ of West over Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/01112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Jonathon Burch, Rudaw
Nov 1:
A world day of solidarity with Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/world/01112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Fiona Leney, Rudaw
Nov 2:
Kurds’ left-wing British friends call for more support
http://rudaw.net/english/world/02112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Harvey Morris, Rudaw
Nov. 3:
Joint anti-ISIS force pushes west of Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/03112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
Nov 3:
Like Turkey’s Erdogan, most Turks disapprove of helping Kobane, poll shows
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/03112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Jonathon Burch, Rudaw
Nov 4:
Kurdish children tortured by ISIS near Kobane, says Human Rights Watch
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/04112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Sharmila Devi, Rudaw
Nov 4:
US backs Kurds on arms for Kobane, exposing more cracks in Turkey ties
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/041120141?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Yerevan Saeed, Rudaw
Nov 5:
Inside Kobane: Eyewitness account in besieged Kurdish city
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29902405
Ersin Caksu, BBC
Nov 5:
VIDEO: Peshmerga shell ISIS inside Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/05112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
Nov 5:
Kobane official calls for more outside help to defeat ISIS
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/051120141?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Sharmila Devi, Rudaw
Nov 7:
Turkish troops kill Kurdish activist at Kobane border
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/071120141?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
Nov 7:
Kobane needs more weapons
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/07112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Hawar Ismaeil, Rudaw
Nov 10:
Images from Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/10112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
Via Rudaw
Nov 10:
Syrian Islamic rebel leader brands Kobane’s Kurdish defenders as enemies
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/10112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Harvey Morris, Rudaw
Nov 11:
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/11112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
Fighting rages in southern Kobane
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
Nov 13:
Peshmerga women’s regiment ready to fight in Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/13112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Bahroz Faraidoon, Rudaw
Nov 15:
What makes a Jewish woman fight for the Kurds?
http://rudaw.net/english/opinion/15112014?keyword=&isArchive=True
By Benjamin Kweskin, Rudaw
Nov 17:
Huge explosions in east Kobane
http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/syria/17112014?keyword=Kobane&isArchive=True
By Alexander Whitcomb, Rudaw
Nov 17:
Vide; Huge US Airstrike Against ISIS in Kobane, Syria
Nov 18:
Syria Kurds advance in heart of Kobane
http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2014/11/18/Syria-Kurds-advance-in-heart-of-Kobane.html
Al Arabiya
Nov 19:
Video of US Airstrike on ISIS position in Kobane
Nov 21:
Peshmerga commander: ISIS degraded in Kobane but gains are slow
http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/21112014?keyword=Kobane&isArchive=True
Rudaw
Nov 28:
Statement by YPJ, Kurdish Women’s Defense Units (N. Syria) at the International Peace Conference for Humanity Values, addressed by YPJ commander Jiyan Tolhildan
http://ypgrojava.com/en/index.php/library/424-women-s-defense-units-statement-in-the-international-peace-conference-for-humanity-values-addressed-by-ypj-commander-jiyan-tolhildan
Nov 29:
Heavy fighting resumes in Kobane between Kurdish forces and ISIS
http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/291120141?keyword=Kobane&isArchive=True
Rudaw
Nov 30:
Pro-Kurdish party presses PM over ‘IS attack from Turkey’ claims
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/afp/article-2855042/Pro-Kurdish-party-presses-PM-IS-attack-Turkey-claims.html
Daily Mail / AFP
Kurdish Heroes 
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