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| Islamic State crisis: US-led Syria strikes 'kill 553' | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US-led air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria have killed 553 people since September, UK-based activists say. | US-led air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria have killed 553 people since September, UK-based activists say. |
| The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 464 IS fighters, 57 other militants and 32 civilians have died. | The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 464 IS fighters, 57 other militants and 32 civilians have died. |
| Meanwhile, fierce fighting resumed in the town of Kobane, where militants and Kurdish forces battling for control. | Meanwhile, fierce fighting resumed in the town of Kobane, where militants and Kurdish forces battling for control. |
| Kurdish sources told BBC Arabic that IS had retaken a strategically important hilltop 4km west of the town. | Kurdish sources told BBC Arabic that IS had retaken a strategically important hilltop 4km west of the town. |
| Kurdish forces fighting IS in Kobane took Tal Shair nine days ago. | Kurdish forces fighting IS in Kobane took Tal Shair nine days ago. |
| Reports also suggest IS fighters have been shelling Kurdish positions and attacking the town centre. | Reports also suggest IS fighters have been shelling Kurdish positions and attacking the town centre. |
| Syrian Kurdish sources told the BBC that IS fighters launched intensive attacks on Wednesday night from the southern and eastern parts of the town, in an apparent attempt to get access to the town centre. | Syrian Kurdish sources told the BBC that IS fighters launched intensive attacks on Wednesday night from the southern and eastern parts of the town, in an apparent attempt to get access to the town centre. |
| The fighting resumed on Thursday morning after a brief period of calm, the sources added. | The fighting resumed on Thursday morning after a brief period of calm, the sources added. |
| Control of Tal Shair has flipped between Syrian Kurdish fighters and IS militants in recent days. Kurds last captured the hill - close to the border with Turkey - from IS on 14 October. | Control of Tal Shair has flipped between Syrian Kurdish fighters and IS militants in recent days. Kurds last captured the hill - close to the border with Turkey - from IS on 14 October. |
| Analysts say whoever controls the hill has a much better chance of controlling Kobane, a Syrian Kurdish town right up against the border. | Analysts say whoever controls the hill has a much better chance of controlling Kobane, a Syrian Kurdish town right up against the border. |
| Seizing Kobane would give IS full control of a long stretch of Syrian territory along the border. | Seizing Kobane would give IS full control of a long stretch of Syrian territory along the border. |
| Kurdish fighters and their Free Syrian Army allies told the BBC that they had launched a counter-attack against IS west of Kobane in an attempt to decrease the pressure on fellow fighters south and east of the town. | Kurdish fighters and their Free Syrian Army allies told the BBC that they had launched a counter-attack against IS west of Kobane in an attempt to decrease the pressure on fellow fighters south and east of the town. |
| A medical source inside the town reported casualties but could not give a number. | A medical source inside the town reported casualties but could not give a number. |
| Omar Alloush, a Kurdish official in Kobane, told the BBC over the telephone that "the fighting is the heaviest in couple of weeks". | Omar Alloush, a Kurdish official in Kobane, told the BBC over the telephone that "the fighting is the heaviest in couple of weeks". |
| Separately the US envoy tasked by President Obama with building a coalition against IS told the BBC that Turkey - which has been criticised over its inaction regarding Kobane - has done "quite a lot" to help deal with the crisis in Syria. | Separately the US envoy tasked by President Obama with building a coalition against IS told the BBC that Turkey - which has been criticised over its inaction regarding Kobane - has done "quite a lot" to help deal with the crisis in Syria. |
| Gen John Allen said that Turkey had accepted the "enormous burden" of 1.5 million refugees. He said that the US was in discussions with the Turkish government which will result in "other commitments". | Gen John Allen said that Turkey had accepted the "enormous burden" of 1.5 million refugees. He said that the US was in discussions with the Turkish government which will result in "other commitments". |
| Gen Allen also said that the US was working with other governments to cut off the "self-sufficient" funding of IS by targeting its "illicit oil smuggling", its "trafficking of antiquities" and other "criminal activities". | Gen Allen also said that the US was working with other governments to cut off the "self-sufficient" funding of IS by targeting its "illicit oil smuggling", its "trafficking of antiquities" and other "criminal activities". |
| The IS advance in Syria takes place against the backdrop of the civil war there. | The IS advance in Syria takes place against the backdrop of the civil war there. |
| US-led air strikes are being conducted without the explicit permission of President Bashar al-Assad, who the West wants to relinquish power. | US-led air strikes are being conducted without the explicit permission of President Bashar al-Assad, who the West wants to relinquish power. |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |