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| Islamic State crisis: New air strikes in Syria and Iraq | Islamic State crisis: New air strikes in Syria and Iraq |
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| US warplanes have carried out new air strikes on Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria, hitting vehicles and arms dumps, the US military says. | US warplanes have carried out new air strikes on Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq and Syria, hitting vehicles and arms dumps, the US military says. |
| Eight IS vehicles were damaged near Abu Kamal on the Syria-Iraq border, and two others in Deir al-Zour in the east of Syria, the US Central Command said. | Eight IS vehicles were damaged near Abu Kamal on the Syria-Iraq border, and two others in Deir al-Zour in the east of Syria, the US Central Command said. |
| In Iraq there were strikes on IS targets west of Baghdad and southeast of Irbil, near Kurdish territory. | In Iraq there were strikes on IS targets west of Baghdad and southeast of Irbil, near Kurdish territory. |
| Earlier there were air strikes on IS near the border with Turkey. | Earlier there were air strikes on IS near the border with Turkey. |
| US President Barack Obama is to address the UN General Assembly in New York shortly, and is expected to speak about the air campaign against IS. | |
| Officials say he will outline America's role as the lead player in a coalition of more than 50 countries committed to defeating IS. | |
| Turkey border crisis | |
| The well-armed Sunni Muslim IS militants have seized large areas of Syria and Iraq, vowing to establish a hardline caliphate ruled by Sharia. They have beheaded Western hostages and have persecuted Christians, Yazidis and Shia Muslims, whom they treat as heretics. | |
| Syrian activists reported strikes around the Kurdish town of Kobane near Turkey, which has been besieged by IS fighters for several days. | |
| Witnesses saw two military aircraft approaching from Turkey but Turkish officials denied its airspace or bases had been used in the attack. | Witnesses saw two military aircraft approaching from Turkey but Turkish officials denied its airspace or bases had been used in the attack. |
| The US-led coalition expanded its raids against IS into Syria on Monday. | The US-led coalition expanded its raids against IS into Syria on Monday. |
| But the aerial bombardment near Kobane, which happened at about 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT), has not been confirmed by the US or any coalition member. | But the aerial bombardment near Kobane, which happened at about 01:00 local time (22:00 GMT), has not been confirmed by the US or any coalition member. |
| Turkish military sources said neither its air force nor the US airbase at Incirlik in southern Turkey had been used. | Turkish military sources said neither its air force nor the US airbase at Incirlik in southern Turkey had been used. |
| The US has launched nearly 200 air strikes against IS in Iraq since August. | |
| The IS advance has created a refugee crisis in neighbouring Turkey. Aid agencies said some 130,000 Kurdish refugees, most of them from Kobane, crossed into Turkey at the weekend. | The IS advance has created a refugee crisis in neighbouring Turkey. Aid agencies said some 130,000 Kurdish refugees, most of them from Kobane, crossed into Turkey at the weekend. |
| Meanwhile, the BBC understands that the UK Parliament will be recalled on Friday to discuss Britain's possible role in air strikes on IS targets. | Meanwhile, the BBC understands that the UK Parliament will be recalled on Friday to discuss Britain's possible role in air strikes on IS targets. |
| Speaking on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said an international coalition was needed to "destroy" IS, adding that it was a fight "you cannot opt out of". | Speaking on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister David Cameron said an international coalition was needed to "destroy" IS, adding that it was a fight "you cannot opt out of". |
| The Dutch government is also considering military action and will hold a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss deploying four F-16 fighter jets. | The Dutch government is also considering military action and will hold a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss deploying four F-16 fighter jets. |
| Turkey had initially refused to take part in military action against IS, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signalled a possible change in policy on Tuesday. | Turkey had initially refused to take part in military action against IS, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signalled a possible change in policy on Tuesday. |
| "We will give the necessary support to the operation. The support could be military or logistics," he told reporters in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly meeting. | "We will give the necessary support to the operation. The support could be military or logistics," he told reporters in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly meeting. |
| Correspondents say Turkey may be willing to get more involved after it secured the release of 49 Turkish hostages who had been held by IS militants in northern Iraq. | Correspondents say Turkey may be willing to get more involved after it secured the release of 49 Turkish hostages who had been held by IS militants in northern Iraq. |
| Anti-IS mood in Raqqa | Anti-IS mood in Raqqa |
| The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is on the Syria-Turkey border, says Kurds still in Kobane reported a significant increase in shelling by IS militants on Wednesday morning. | The BBC's Mark Lowen, who is on the Syria-Turkey border, says Kurds still in Kobane reported a significant increase in shelling by IS militants on Wednesday morning. |
| A Kurdish military commander told Reuters news agency that IS boosted its forces after the air strikes, sending extra fighters and tanks to the outskirts of Kobane. | A Kurdish military commander told Reuters news agency that IS boosted its forces after the air strikes, sending extra fighters and tanks to the outskirts of Kobane. |
| In the IS stronghold of Raqqa local people are looking forward to more air strikes on IS targets, according to Abdulkader Hariri, a man who got in touch with the BBC. | In the IS stronghold of Raqqa local people are looking forward to more air strikes on IS targets, according to Abdulkader Hariri, a man who got in touch with the BBC. |
| He says he is in the city, despite feeling "danger every day" because IS militants are against use of social media. | He says he is in the city, despite feeling "danger every day" because IS militants are against use of social media. |
| "Everybody is anticipating the second wave of attacks - especially at night. Surprisingly, many people are excited about hitting Isis [IS] more than anything - but those who live near Isis headquarters are afraid. | "Everybody is anticipating the second wave of attacks - especially at night. Surprisingly, many people are excited about hitting Isis [IS] more than anything - but those who live near Isis headquarters are afraid. |
| "There's only one hospital still operating now - the national hospital. Food supplies are available," he wrote. | "There's only one hospital still operating now - the national hospital. Food supplies are available," he wrote. |
| 'Long battle ahead' | 'Long battle ahead' |
| On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby said the US strikes in Syria had disrupted IS but warned that the fight against them would take years. | On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm John Kirby said the US strikes in Syria had disrupted IS but warned that the fight against them would take years. |
| "It's going to take a serious effort by all involved. We do believe that we're talking about years here," he told the BBC. | "It's going to take a serious effort by all involved. We do believe that we're talking about years here," he told the BBC. |
| President Obama hailed the support of Arab nations in air strikes against IS on Monday, saying: "This is not America's fight alone." | |
| The US said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar had all "participated in or supported" the strikes. | The US said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Bahrain and Qatar had all "participated in or supported" the strikes. |
| Middle East press reacts to Syria strikes | Middle East press reacts to Syria strikes |
| The involvement of the region's countries "has given more legitimacy to the alliance" and embarrasses Russia and Iran, according to an editorial in Saudi newspaper Al-Watan. | The involvement of the region's countries "has given more legitimacy to the alliance" and embarrasses Russia and Iran, according to an editorial in Saudi newspaper Al-Watan. |
| In the conservative Iranian paper Khorasan, Ali Reza Rezakhah says the limited military operation shows that is it not "America's priority to fight [IS] nor [IS's] priority to fight America". | In the conservative Iranian paper Khorasan, Ali Reza Rezakhah says the limited military operation shows that is it not "America's priority to fight [IS] nor [IS's] priority to fight America". |
| Salih al-Qallab defends Jordan's role in the air strikes in Jordanian daily Al-Ra'y, saying it is "no surprise" since terrorists inside Syria "went too far" in their attempts to carry out terrorist operations in Jordan. | Salih al-Qallab defends Jordan's role in the air strikes in Jordanian daily Al-Ra'y, saying it is "no surprise" since terrorists inside Syria "went too far" in their attempts to carry out terrorist operations in Jordan. |
| Writing in Syrian daily Al-Thawrah, As'ad Abud says it is "new and unique" for Syrian territory to be attacked by an alliance involving Arab countries, especially when those countries once supported the terrorists it is attacking. | Writing in Syrian daily Al-Thawrah, As'ad Abud says it is "new and unique" for Syrian territory to be attacked by an alliance involving Arab countries, especially when those countries once supported the terrorists it is attacking. |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |
| Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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