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U.S. drops weapons, aid to Kurds fighting Islamic State in Syria U.S. drops weapons, aid to Kurds fighting Islamic State in Syria
(35 minutes later)
U.S. aircraft dropped weapons and medical supplies late Sunday to besieged opposition forces fighting the Islamic State in the Syrian border town of Kobane, the first airdrops into Syria since the civil war there began more than three years ago. U.S. aircraft dropped weapons and medical supplies late Sunday to besieged forces fighting the Islamic State in the Syrian border town of Kobane, the first airdrops into Syria since the civil war there began more than three years ago.
Senior administration officials said the emergency decision to drop the supplies, including small arms and ammunition, followed urgent appeals from Syrian Kurds defending the town, which lies along the Turkish border, after three weeks of fighting against surging militant fighters.Senior administration officials said the emergency decision to drop the supplies, including small arms and ammunition, followed urgent appeals from Syrian Kurds defending the town, which lies along the Turkish border, after three weeks of fighting against surging militant fighters.
The airdrops — totaling what officials said were 27 “bundles” of supplies dropped by three C-130 cargo planes — followed a week of intensive U.S. and coalition airstrikes against militant forces in and around Kobane. The airdrops — totaling what officials said were 27 “bundles” of supplies delivered by three C-130 cargo planes — followed a week of intensive U.S. and coalition airstrikes against militant forces in and around Kobane.
Officials did not specify where the planes departed, but said the operation lasted about four hours, beginning at 4 p.m. Washington time. The C-130s, which fly low and slowly, were not accompanied by fighter jets, they said, because the Islamic State is not thought to have antiaircraft weapons. Officials did not specify where the planes took off but said the operation lasted about four hours, beginning at 4 p.m. Washington time. The C-130s, which fly low and slowly, were not accompanied by fighter jets, they said, because the Islamic State is not thought to have antiaircraft weapons.
The resupply decision came during a weekend in which some of the fiercest fighting occurred in and around the Kobane, with militants firing dozens of mortars, some of which were said to have landed in Turkish territory. The decision to provide supplies came during a weekend in which some of the fiercest fighting occurred in and around Kobane, with militants firing dozens of mortar rounds, some of which were said to have landed in Turkish territory.
The officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity under rules imposed by the administration, said that Kobane may still fall to the Islamic State. They said that the coalition focus on the town was based on targets of opportunity provided by massing militant forces, and the need to try to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The Islamic State has executed thousands of civilians in areas it has overtaken in Syria and Iraq. The officials, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity under rules imposed by the administration, said that Kobane may still fall to the Islamic State. They said that the coalition focus on the town was based on targets of opportunity provided by massing Islamic State forces and the need to try to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The Islamic State has executed thousands of civilians in areas it has taken in Syria and Iraq.
But in deciding to focus extensive firepower on Kobane, the administration is seeking to avoid a militant propaganda victory in a place that has garnered intense media attention from reporters based just over the Turkish border. But in deciding to focus extensive firepower on Kobane, the administration also is seeking to avoid a militant propaganda victory in a place that has garnered intense attention from reporters based just over the Turkish border.
Over the past week, the administration has tried unsuccessfully to persuade Turkey to open its border to the resupply. President Obama informed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the planned U.S. airdrop by phone Saturday, senior administration officials said.Over the past week, the administration has tried unsuccessfully to persuade Turkey to open its border to the resupply. President Obama informed Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the planned U.S. airdrop by phone Saturday, senior administration officials said.
“We have made clear to the Turkish government for some days now the urgency of facilitating resupply to those forces,” said one senior official, who added that Obama had conveyed to Erdogan “the importance we put on it.”“We have made clear to the Turkish government for some days now the urgency of facilitating resupply to those forces,” said one senior official, who added that Obama had conveyed to Erdogan “the importance we put on it.”
While Turkey has agreed to limited participation in the U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State, it has resisted aiding the Syrian Kurds, who are allied with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). That group has been engaged in episodic conflict with Turkey and is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and the United States.While Turkey has agreed to limited participation in the U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State, it has resisted aiding the Syrian Kurds, who are allied with the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK). That group has been engaged in episodic conflict with Turkey and is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey and the United States.
Turkey has also tried to leverage its support for the coalition effort for a U.S. pledge to expand its military campaign against the Islamic State to a fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Turkey also has tried to leverage its support for the coalition effort to secure a U.S. pledge to expand its military campaign against the Islamic State to a fight against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
The ethnic Kurdish homeland spans Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. In Iraq, the government of the semi-autonomous Kurdish regional government has shared Turkish animosity toward the PKK and its Syrian allies.The ethnic Kurdish homeland spans Turkey, Syria, Iran and Iraq. In Iraq, the government of the semi-autonomous Kurdish regional government has shared Turkish animosity toward the PKK and its Syrian allies.
But in a symbolic display of Kurdish solidarity, and as a result of intense U.S. diplomacy in recent days, the weapons and ammunition dropped were supplied by Kurdish authorities in Iraq. Much of those supplies, however, have been at least indirectly provided to the Iraqi Kurds by the United States and coalition allies. But in a symbolic display of Kurdish solidarity, and as a result of intense U.S. diplomacy in recent days, the weapons and ammunition dropped were supplied by Kurdish authorities in Iraq. Much of the material, however, had been at least indirectly provided to the Iraqi Kurds by the United States and coalition allies.
The U.S. Central Command said that “no U.S.-made weapons” were included in the Syria resupply. Iraq’s Kurdish military force, called the pesh merga, uses mostly Soviet-era Russian weapons, which the United States arranged last summer to be supplied by former Soviet-bloc countries now in NATO.The U.S. Central Command said that “no U.S.-made weapons” were included in the Syria resupply. Iraq’s Kurdish military force, called the pesh merga, uses mostly Soviet-era Russian weapons, which the United States arranged last summer to be supplied by former Soviet-bloc countries now in NATO.
Missy Ryan contributed to this report.Missy Ryan contributed to this report.