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| Iraqi Kurds Are Joining Fight to Drive Islamic State From Kobani | Iraqi Kurds Are Joining Fight to Drive Islamic State From Kobani |
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| SULAIMANIYA, Iraq — For the first time, pesh merga forces from Iraqi Kurdistan have moved to join the fighting against Islamic State militants besieging the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, taking advantage of Turkey’s decision to open its borders to reinforcements. | SULAIMANIYA, Iraq — For the first time, pesh merga forces from Iraqi Kurdistan have moved to join the fighting against Islamic State militants besieging the Syrian Kurdish city of Kobani, taking advantage of Turkey’s decision to open its borders to reinforcements. |
| About 150 pesh merga fighters were expected to arrive near Kobani as early as Tuesday night, joining a battle that has stretched for more than a month despite continued airstrikes by the United States-led military coalition against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. | About 150 pesh merga fighters were expected to arrive near Kobani as early as Tuesday night, joining a battle that has stretched for more than a month despite continued airstrikes by the United States-led military coalition against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. |
| The arrival of the pesh merga had been expected for more than a week, after Turkey announced that it would let the Iraqi fighters cross the border. The cause of the delay was unclear, but Kurdish officials in Kobani had initially seemed cool to the idea of outside forces entering the city. | The arrival of the pesh merga had been expected for more than a week, after Turkey announced that it would let the Iraqi fighters cross the border. The cause of the delay was unclear, but Kurdish officials in Kobani had initially seemed cool to the idea of outside forces entering the city. |
| They insisted that their own fighters, who serve with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or Y.P.G., could defend Kobani if they were provided with arms and ammunition. They suggested that the additional fighters, including those serving with units of the antigovernment Free Syrian Army, could open up other fronts against the Islamic State. | They insisted that their own fighters, who serve with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or Y.P.G., could defend Kobani if they were provided with arms and ammunition. They suggested that the additional fighters, including those serving with units of the antigovernment Free Syrian Army, could open up other fronts against the Islamic State. |
| Later, the officials blamed Turkey for the delay. But Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, denied that his government was blocking the entrance of the fighters. | Later, the officials blamed Turkey for the delay. But Turkey’s foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, denied that his government was blocking the entrance of the fighters. |
| “There are no political setbacks on the issue,” he said Tuesday, according to the semiofficial Anadolu agency. “Turkey has already mentioned several times about helping either pesh merga or the Free Syrian Army fight against ISIL.” | “There are no political setbacks on the issue,” he said Tuesday, according to the semiofficial Anadolu agency. “Turkey has already mentioned several times about helping either pesh merga or the Free Syrian Army fight against ISIL.” |
| Roads in Iraqi Kurdistan were lined with cheering residents as a convoy of dozens of pesh merga fighters, along with artillery pieces, rocket launchers and heavy machine guns, left a base outside Erbil on its way to the Turkish border. Another contingent of fighters flew to Turkey from Erbil, the regional capital, officials said. | Roads in Iraqi Kurdistan were lined with cheering residents as a convoy of dozens of pesh merga fighters, along with artillery pieces, rocket launchers and heavy machine guns, left a base outside Erbil on its way to the Turkish border. Another contingent of fighters flew to Turkey from Erbil, the regional capital, officials said. |
| Although the pesh merga will serve under their own commanders in Kobani, their entry to the battle offered a moment of unity among rival Kurdish factions. It remains to be seen, though, whether the reinforcements can shift the momentum in a fight that has become a crucible in the broader war between the United States-led coalition and the Islamic State. | Although the pesh merga will serve under their own commanders in Kobani, their entry to the battle offered a moment of unity among rival Kurdish factions. It remains to be seen, though, whether the reinforcements can shift the momentum in a fight that has become a crucible in the broader war between the United States-led coalition and the Islamic State. |
| The United States has conducted more than a hundred airstrikes on the militants around Kobani, and has provided weapons and ammunition to the Kurdish fighters with airdrops. Even so, Kurdish officials in Kobani said Tuesday that the Islamic State had recovered from losses it sustained earlier this month as the airstrikes intensified, and now controlled up to half the city. | The United States has conducted more than a hundred airstrikes on the militants around Kobani, and has provided weapons and ammunition to the Kurdish fighters with airdrops. Even so, Kurdish officials in Kobani said Tuesday that the Islamic State had recovered from losses it sustained earlier this month as the airstrikes intensified, and now controlled up to half the city. |