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Kobane: Air strikes 'stall IS advance' on Syrian border town Kobane: Air strikes 'stall IS advance' on Syrian border town
(about 2 hours later)
US-led forces have continued air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants near the besieged Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobane.US-led forces have continued air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants near the besieged Syrian Kurdish border town of Kobane.
A senior local official said IS had been pushed back towards the edge of the town as a result of the strikes and advances by the town's defenders.A senior local official said IS had been pushed back towards the edge of the town as a result of the strikes and advances by the town's defenders.
Earlier reports said the militants had controlled almost a third of Kobane, on the Turkish-Syrian border.Earlier reports said the militants had controlled almost a third of Kobane, on the Turkish-Syrian border.
Turkey has ruled out a ground operation on its own against IS in Syria.Turkey has ruled out a ground operation on its own against IS in Syria.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu renewed calls for the creation of a no-fly zone along the Syrian side of the border during talks in Ankara with new Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg.Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu renewed calls for the creation of a no-fly zone along the Syrian side of the border during talks in Ankara with new Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg.
Turkey - a Nato member - also wants co-ordinated action against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.Turkey - a Nato member - also wants co-ordinated action against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
This would include preventing Syrian government aircraft from flying near the Turkish border. Turkey fears that Mr Assad's forces would be the main beneficiaries of an IS retreat.This would include preventing Syrian government aircraft from flying near the Turkish border. Turkey fears that Mr Assad's forces would be the main beneficiaries of an IS retreat.
It also wants to ease the influx of refugees into Turkey, and is under intense pressure to do more to help the Kurdish forces in Kobane.It also wants to ease the influx of refugees into Turkey, and is under intense pressure to do more to help the Kurdish forces in Kobane.
The US military on Thursday said it had carried out nine more air strikes near the town, damaging IS positions and destroying vehicles and buildings.
The statement said the US was monitoring the situation in Kobane closely and "indications are that Kurdish militia there continue to control most of the city and are holding out" against IS.
The UN's special envoy in Syria, Steffan de Mistura, said on Wednesday that everything possible had to be done to save Kobane, and the town's fall would threaten Turkey itself.The UN's special envoy in Syria, Steffan de Mistura, said on Wednesday that everything possible had to be done to save Kobane, and the town's fall would threaten Turkey itself.
The Turkish government won parliamentary authorisation for possible military action last week.The Turkish government won parliamentary authorisation for possible military action last week.
By Mark Lowen, BBC News, AnkaraBy Mark Lowen, BBC News, Ankara
Beyond the desire for Syrian President Assad to go, beyond the call for a no-fly zone, there is a far more profound reason for Turkey's reluctance to act in Kobane - the bad blood with the Kurds runs deep here.Beyond the desire for Syrian President Assad to go, beyond the call for a no-fly zone, there is a far more profound reason for Turkey's reluctance to act in Kobane - the bad blood with the Kurds runs deep here.
And Yasin Aktay, vice-chairman of the governing AKP party, addressed the issue outright in an interview with me in Ankara.And Yasin Aktay, vice-chairman of the governing AKP party, addressed the issue outright in an interview with me in Ankara.
"There is no tragedy in Kobane as cried out by the terrorist PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party]", he said. "There is a war between two terrorist groups.""There is no tragedy in Kobane as cried out by the terrorist PKK [Kurdistan Workers' Party]", he said. "There is a war between two terrorist groups."
That is the suspicion of many - that the Turkish government is content enough to see fighting rage in Kobane as Islamic State and the Kurdish militia attack each other.That is the suspicion of many - that the Turkish government is content enough to see fighting rage in Kobane as Islamic State and the Kurdish militia attack each other.
It's been likened to a proxy war, Ankara watching as Islamic State does Turkey's bidding, fighting its old Kurdish enemy.It's been likened to a proxy war, Ankara watching as Islamic State does Turkey's bidding, fighting its old Kurdish enemy.
Turkey fears an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria could reignite Kurdish separatism back home. And if the fall of Kobane would mean those territorial ambitions crumble too, so be it.Turkey fears an autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria could reignite Kurdish separatism back home. And if the fall of Kobane would mean those territorial ambitions crumble too, so be it.
The motion provides a legal framework for the Turkish military to launch incursions into Syria and Iraq against militants who threaten Turkey. It also allows for foreign troops to be stationed in Turkey as part of the same campaign.The motion provides a legal framework for the Turkish military to launch incursions into Syria and Iraq against militants who threaten Turkey. It also allows for foreign troops to be stationed in Turkey as part of the same campaign.
But Turkey remains wary of getting involved, partly because it is concerned about arming the Kurdish forces who are fighting the militants. Turkey has fought a long civil war with its Kurdish minority headed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).But Turkey remains wary of getting involved, partly because it is concerned about arming the Kurdish forces who are fighting the militants. Turkey has fought a long civil war with its Kurdish minority headed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"PKK is also another terrorist organisation. And you mean we should help a terrorist organisation and we should favour one terrorist organisation over the other?" Yasin Aktay, vice-chairman of Turkey's governing AKP party, told the BBC."PKK is also another terrorist organisation. And you mean we should help a terrorist organisation and we should favour one terrorist organisation over the other?" Yasin Aktay, vice-chairman of Turkey's governing AKP party, told the BBC.
"All the civilians [from Kobane] are already in Turkey now. Turkey has saved all the civilians. There is war now in Kobane between two terrorist groups," he added."All the civilians [from Kobane] are already in Turkey now. Turkey has saved all the civilians. There is war now in Kobane between two terrorist groups," he added.
Pro-Kurdish protesters demanding Turkish intervention have clashed with police in several cities over recent days, with 20 people killed.Pro-Kurdish protesters demanding Turkish intervention have clashed with police in several cities over recent days, with 20 people killed.
'Crazy without sleep''Crazy without sleep'
After overnight fighting, monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, quoting "reliable sources", said IS controlled a third of the town and was advancing towards the centre from eastern districts. The monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, quoting "reliable sources", said on Thursday that IS controlled a third of the town and was advancing towards the centre.
But US and Kurdish reports suggested the defenders still controlled most of the town and were holding out. A local commander told the BBC that while his fighters were "going crazy without sleep", only 20% of the town was under IS control.
A local commander told the BBC his fighters were "going crazy without sleep", but only 20% of the town was under IS control.
Senior local official Idris Nassan told the BBC: "Air strikes and special operations of the YPG pushed [IS] back and now they are not controlling any more the one-third of Kobane [sic]."
"They are controlling some houses in the east and south-eastern sides of Kobane."
Air strikes continued overnight and into Thursday morning. US Central Command confirmed that five had been carried out south of Kobane on Wednesday and Thursday.
At the scene: Quentin Sommerville, BBC News, Turkey-Syria borderAt the scene: Quentin Sommerville, BBC News, Turkey-Syria border
As the battle for Kobane continues, on the Turkish side of the border, the long-running conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish population is on full display.As the battle for Kobane continues, on the Turkish side of the border, the long-running conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish population is on full display.
The governor of the Turkish border town of Suruc, Abduallah Ciftci, says he is providing humanitarian aid to those remaining inside the besieged town of Kobane, and that military help is impossible. Turkey's first priority must be to protect its borders, he said.The governor of the Turkish border town of Suruc, Abduallah Ciftci, says he is providing humanitarian aid to those remaining inside the besieged town of Kobane, and that military help is impossible. Turkey's first priority must be to protect its borders, he said.
Kurdish protesters gathered this morning in cotton fields near the border demanding urgent help from Turkey. They say humanitarian help is especially needed.Kurdish protesters gathered this morning in cotton fields near the border demanding urgent help from Turkey. They say humanitarian help is especially needed.
One of the protesters, Hassibeh Merginkal, told me: "They are allowing Islamic State to kill our people and blow up our homes."One of the protesters, Hassibeh Merginkal, told me: "They are allowing Islamic State to kill our people and blow up our homes."
They destroyed an IS training camp, support building and two vehicles, and also hit two IS units, CentCom said. Kurdish forces say that they urgently need more weapons and ammunition "to stop the heavy weaponry of [IS]".
Mr Hassan welcomed the strikes as a "very good sign" but said that Kurdish forces urgently needed more weapons and ammunition "to stop the heavy weaponry of [IS]".
"They [IS] are using tanks, Humvee vehicles and cannons, rockets, mortars," he added."They [IS] are using tanks, Humvee vehicles and cannons, rockets, mortars," he added.
Turkey has stationed tanks along its border overlooking the town, but has made no move to intervene.Turkey has stationed tanks along its border overlooking the town, but has made no move to intervene.
The US is leading an international coalition against IS after the group seized swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, which both share a border with Turkey.
Meanwhile Italy has proposed a European Union multinational team to deal with the threat of jihadist fighters returning to EU countries from Syria and Iraq, Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said.
EU counter-terrorism coordinator Gilles de Kerchove said air strikes against IS may provide fighters from Europe with an "incentive" to return home, which Western governments perceive as a major security threat.
Are you in or near Kobane? If you have photographs or videos or are able to speak to a BBC journalist you can get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you in or near Kobane? If you have photographs or videos or are able to speak to a BBC journalist you can get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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