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US-led air strikes hit suspected Isis targets near Kobani | US-led air strikes hit suspected Isis targets near Kobani |
(35 minutes later) | |
US-led coalition jets have struck suspected Islamic State (Isis) targets at least twice in the besieged Syrian town of Kobani, after fierce shelling by the insurgents hit the town centre. | |
Shelling continued after the strikes on Saturday, according to witnesses. | |
Isis militants have been battling Kurdish fighters for a month to take control of the town near the Turkish border, but stepped-up coalition air strikes have helped Kurds fend off the advance. | Isis militants have been battling Kurdish fighters for a month to take control of the town near the Turkish border, but stepped-up coalition air strikes have helped Kurds fend off the advance. |
The coalition, which has been bombing Isis targets in Iraq since August, extended the campaign to Syria in September. | The coalition, which has been bombing Isis targets in Iraq since August, extended the campaign to Syria in September. |
On Friday, General Lloyd Austin, the commanding officer of US Central Command, told reporters: “Iraq is our main effort, and it has to be, and the things that we’re doing right now in Syria are being done primarily to shape the conditions in Iraq.” | On Friday, General Lloyd Austin, the commanding officer of US Central Command, told reporters: “Iraq is our main effort, and it has to be, and the things that we’re doing right now in Syria are being done primarily to shape the conditions in Iraq.” |
German police have arrested two men suspected of supporting Isis and raided properties across the country of another 13 suspected supporters of militant Islamist groups, prosecutors said on Saturday. | German police have arrested two men suspected of supporting Isis and raided properties across the country of another 13 suspected supporters of militant Islamist groups, prosecutors said on Saturday. |
The two men were arrested in the western city of Aachen and identified as a 38-year-old Tunisian, Kamel Ben Yahia S, and a 28-year-old Russian, Yusup G, federal prosecutors said in a statement. | The two men were arrested in the western city of Aachen and identified as a 38-year-old Tunisian, Kamel Ben Yahia S, and a 28-year-old Russian, Yusup G, federal prosecutors said in a statement. |
The Tunisian is suspected of providing clothing worth over €1,100 ($1,400) and €3,400 in cash to Isis since July 2013 and of smuggling a 17-year-old boy from Germany to Syria via Turkey to join the group. The Russian is accused of helping the smuggling and of being a member of a foreign terrorist organisation. | |
Authorities believe the other suspects supported either Isis or Ahrar al-Sham, another Syrian Islamist group, by providing thousands of boots and other military clothing. |