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Islamic State: Turkey to let Iraq Kurds join Kobane fight Islamic State: Turkey to let Iraq Kurds join Kobane fight
(about 1 hour later)
In a policy reversal, Turkey is to allow Iraqi Kurdish fighters to cross the Syrian border to fight Islamic State (IS) militants in Kobane. Turkey is to allow Iraqi Kurdish fighters to cross the Syrian border to fight Islamic State (IS) militants in Kobane, in what is being seen as a policy reversal.
Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu added that talks on the subject were continuing. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said talks on the subject were continuing.
Tens of thousands of people have fled months of fighting in Kobane between IS forces and Syrian Kurd defenders.Tens of thousands of people have fled months of fighting in Kobane between IS forces and Syrian Kurd defenders.
The announcement came shortly after the US carried out air drops of weapons to Kobane's Kurdish fighters. The announcement came shortly after the US carried out air drops of weapons to the town's Kurdish fighters.
Meanwhile the US-led coalition has carried out its first air strike of the day, on the south-west of the town, says the BBC's Kasra Naji on the Turkish border.
He says Kobane has been largely quiet for the second day running, with Kurdish fighters apparently having driven IS militants from most of the town.
But the Turkish government decision is nevertheless a major boost for the defenders' morale, our correspondent adds, and soon for their fighting capability.
Analysis: Mark Lowen, BBC News, Istanbul
This is, on one level, a significant and unexpected shift by the Turkish government.
After refusing permission for fighters to cross its territory to join the Kurdish militia in Syria it has made a U-turn of sorts, assisting Peshmerga fighters to enter Kobane, probably by providing safe passage through Turkey, though the details are not yet known.
But there is a delicate political dance here. On Sunday, Turkey's President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, took his traditional tough line on the Kurdish militia in Syria, calling them "terrorists" and saying that they must not be armed by Turkey or the US.
Then Washington went ahead and did just that, dropping weapons to Kurdish fighters around Kobane, quite possibly with tacit Turkish approval during a phone call that took place between the two presidents.
And a day later, Ankara admitted it was helping Peshmerga enter Syria. This is most likely realpolitik by the Turkish government, saying one thing for domestic consumption, to ward off criticism by Turks that it's helping the Kurds, and another to the White House, agreeing to help Kurdish fighters in a way that is acceptable back home.
InsurgencyInsurgency
Turkey, faced with a long insurgency by its own Kurds, has up till now barred access for Kurdish fighters to Syria.Turkey, faced with a long insurgency by its own Kurds, has up till now barred access for Kurdish fighters to Syria.
The government in Ankara fought a decades-long conflict with the PKK, which it brands as a terrorist organisation. The PKK campaigns for greater autonomy in Turkey and has links with the Syrian Kurds defending Kobane.The government in Ankara fought a decades-long conflict with the PKK, which it brands as a terrorist organisation. The PKK campaigns for greater autonomy in Turkey and has links with the Syrian Kurds defending Kobane.
But Turkey has come under pressure from its own Kurdish population, and more widely, to allow fighters in to help push IS out of Kobane, a town that has become highly symbolic of the wider battle against IS. But the Kurdish Rudaw news agency reports that Ankara has now accepted a request from Massoud Barzani, the Iraqi Kurdish leader, to allow Iraq's Peshmerga forces through Turkish territory.
Turkey has come under pressure from its own Kurdish population, and more widely, to allow fighters in to help push IS out of Kobane, a town that has become highly symbolic of the wider battle against IS.
"Turkey has no wish see Kobane fall," Mr Cavusoglu added."Turkey has no wish see Kobane fall," Mr Cavusoglu added.
The Turkish announcement is a surprise and a significant shift, the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul says. But a senior Kurdish official responsible for defence in Kobane, Ismet Hesen, told the BBC that his forces already had the initiative against IS and they needed heavy weapons rather than extra manpower.
"If any force would like to come to fight with us here, forces on the ground doing the fighting here should be consulted first," he said.
Only hours before Mr Cavusoglu's comments, the United States military said it had carried out air drops of weapons, ammunition and medical supplies to the Syrian Kurdish fighters around Kobane.Only hours before Mr Cavusoglu's comments, the United States military said it had carried out air drops of weapons, ammunition and medical supplies to the Syrian Kurdish fighters around Kobane.
The drops of supplies provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq were designed to prevent Kobane being taken over, Centcom said in a statement.The drops of supplies provided by Kurdish authorities in Iraq were designed to prevent Kobane being taken over, Centcom said in a statement.
Officials said three planes - C130 Hercules - were involved and 27 bundles were delivered.Officials said three planes - C130 Hercules - were involved and 27 bundles were delivered.
Justifying the air drops in the face of Turkish misgivings, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it would be "morally difficult" not to support the "valiant Kurds".Justifying the air drops in the face of Turkish misgivings, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it would be "morally difficult" not to support the "valiant Kurds".
"Let me say very respectfully to our allies the Turks that we understand fully the fundamentals of their opposition and ours to any kind of terrorist group and particularly obviously the challenges they face with respect [to] the PKK," Mr Kerry said."Let me say very respectfully to our allies the Turks that we understand fully the fundamentals of their opposition and ours to any kind of terrorist group and particularly obviously the challenges they face with respect [to] the PKK," Mr Kerry said.
"But we have undertaken a coalition effort to degrade and destroy ISIL, and ISIL is presenting itself in major numbers in this place called Kobane,'' he added. ISIL is Washington's preferred name for Islamic State."But we have undertaken a coalition effort to degrade and destroy ISIL, and ISIL is presenting itself in major numbers in this place called Kobane,'' he added. ISIL is Washington's preferred name for Islamic State.
On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said he would not allow Kurdish fighters to receive any transfers of American arms.
A US administration official said President Barack Obama had called Mr Erdogan on Saturday to inform him that the airdrops would be taking place. The official did not say how Mr Erdogan reacted.
Centcom says US forces have conducted more than 135 air strikes against IS in Kobane since early October, killing hundreds of IS militants.Centcom says US forces have conducted more than 135 air strikes against IS in Kobane since early October, killing hundreds of IS militants.
But "Kobane could still fall," it added.But "Kobane could still fall," it added.
The fighting in Kobane has destroyed many buildings and led to queues of refugees at the Turkish border.The fighting in Kobane has destroyed many buildings and led to queues of refugees at the Turkish border.
Who are Islamic State (IS)?Who are Islamic State (IS)?
Weeks of fightingWeeks of fighting
The rapid advance of IS in both Syria and Iraq, where it controls large chunks of territory, has rattled the West prompting the US-led air strikes.The rapid advance of IS in both Syria and Iraq, where it controls large chunks of territory, has rattled the West prompting the US-led air strikes.
Kobane is a strategic objective for IS, and fierce fighting has raged in the town for weeks, forcing the evacuation of most of its civilian inhabitants.Kobane is a strategic objective for IS, and fierce fighting has raged in the town for weeks, forcing the evacuation of most of its civilian inhabitants.
The IS advance in Syria takes place against the backdrop of the civil war. US-led air strikes are being conducted there without the permission of President Bashar al-Assad, who the West wants to relinquish power.The IS advance in Syria takes place against the backdrop of the civil war. US-led air strikes are being conducted there without the permission of President Bashar al-Assad, who the West wants to relinquish power.
In Iraq, the air campaign is taking place with the co-operation of the government. The advance of IS there earlier this year has taken it to close to the capital, Baghdad.In Iraq, the air campaign is taking place with the co-operation of the government. The advance of IS there earlier this year has taken it to close to the capital, Baghdad.
The key northern Baiji oil refinery is under constant IS threat, and on Sunday the Iraqi military said it was carrying out an offensive to retake the nearby city of the same name.
In other developments: