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Iraqi forces arrive in Turkey to join battle for Kobane Iraqi forces arrive in Turkey to join battle for Kobane
(about 1 hour later)
Kurdish militiamen from Iraq arrived in Turkey early Wednesday to join fellow Kurds in their battle against Islamic State jihadists in the embattled Syrian border town of Kobane, news agencies reported.Kurdish militiamen from Iraq arrived in Turkey early Wednesday to join fellow Kurds in their battle against Islamic State jihadists in the embattled Syrian border town of Kobane, news agencies reported.
The sensitive dispatch of the Iraqi Kurdish fighters to Kobane highlights the deep political tensions in the region that are complicating the U.S.-led alliance confronting the surging Sunni militant group.The sensitive dispatch of the Iraqi Kurdish fighters to Kobane highlights the deep political tensions in the region that are complicating the U.S.-led alliance confronting the surging Sunni militant group.
A Turkish Airlines plane carrying Kurdish fighters landed in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa in the dead of night Wednesday amid tight security, the Reuters news agency reported. The fighters arrived in Turkey after a rousing send-off from thousands of cheering and flag-waving supporters in the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Irbil, according to the Associated Press.A Turkish Airlines plane carrying Kurdish fighters landed in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa in the dead of night Wednesday amid tight security, the Reuters news agency reported. The fighters arrived in Turkey after a rousing send-off from thousands of cheering and flag-waving supporters in the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Irbil, according to the Associated Press.
A convoy of buses escorted by Turkish security forces left the airport shortly afterwards, the news agencies reported. A separate group of Kurdish fighters, known as pesh merga, were traveling to the Turkish border by land, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.A convoy of buses escorted by Turkish security forces left the airport shortly afterwards, the news agencies reported. A separate group of Kurdish fighters, known as pesh merga, were traveling to the Turkish border by land, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported.
The arrival of the 150 pesh merga fighters comes after extensive negotiations for transit through Turkey, which has been extremely wary of further strengthening the region’s Kurdish bonds after battling its own Kurdish insurgency for three decades. Under pressure from Western allies, Turkey last week agreed to let the fighters from Iraq travel across Turkey to reach Kobane.The arrival of the 150 pesh merga fighters comes after extensive negotiations for transit through Turkey, which has been extremely wary of further strengthening the region’s Kurdish bonds after battling its own Kurdish insurgency for three decades. Under pressure from Western allies, Turkey last week agreed to let the fighters from Iraq travel across Turkey to reach Kobane.
Kobane, nestled on the Syrian-Turkish border, has been under siege by Islamic State fighters for more than a month and hundreds of people have been killed, according to activists. Intense U.S.-led airstrikes there have so far failed to break the siege and have become a test of the West’s ability to combat the militant group. The role of the Iraqi Kurds was not immediately clear.
The fighters are expected to bring anti-tank and anti-armor weapons into Kobane when they arrive later Wednesday, A Syrian Kurdish official told the Reuters news agency.
Saleh Moslem, co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Reuters the anti-armor weapons were meant to help fend off Islamic State fighters who have used armored vehicles and tanks in their assault on the town.
“These armored vehicles and tanks were making problems for them,” Moslem was quoted by Reuters as saying. “So now, this will give support,” he said.
The pesh merga contingent is unlikely to tip the scales against the well-armed Islamic State militants, but its arrival could open the way for more reinforcements.
A monitoring group, meanwhile, reported Wednesday that the jihadists had killed at least 30 government and pro-government fighters in an assault on a Syrian gas field Tuesday that has seen some of the worst battles between Islamic State militants and forces loyal to the Syrian regime, which has been fighting a civil war for more than three years.
The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fierce fighting around the Sha’ar gas field, which Islamic State militants first seized in July, killing some 350 people at the time. Government forces recaptured the field, just east of the embattled central city of Homs, last month, but new fighting erupted Tuesday.
The monitoring group said Islamic State militants also seized three wells in Tuesday's attack. Fighting continued there overnight, the group said.
Kobane, lying right on the Syrian-Turkish border, has been under siege by Islamic State fighters for more than a month and hundreds of people have been killed, according to activists. Intense U.S.-led airstrikes there have so far failed to break the siege and have become a test of the West’s ability to combat the militant group.
Some 200,000 Syrian Kurds have fled the fighting to Turkey, sparking a desperate plea for help from Kurds across the region. The Sunni extremists control parts of Kobane, and have captured dozens of Kurdish villages in the area.Some 200,000 Syrian Kurds have fled the fighting to Turkey, sparking a desperate plea for help from Kurds across the region. The Sunni extremists control parts of Kobane, and have captured dozens of Kurdish villages in the area.
Turkey has military units deployed on its border with Syria but has refused to launch a solo ground offensive into Kobane, saying allies need to join any such incursion because Turkey cannot do it alone. Turkey opposes stronger ties between the Syrian Kurds and Turkey’s Kurds, who have waged a guerrilla campaign against the Turkish government since the 1980s.Turkey has military units deployed on its border with Syria but has refused to launch a solo ground offensive into Kobane, saying allies need to join any such incursion because Turkey cannot do it alone. Turkey opposes stronger ties between the Syrian Kurds and Turkey’s Kurds, who have waged a guerrilla campaign against the Turkish government since the 1980s.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the BBC Tuesday that sending the pesh merga was “the only way to help Kobane, since other countries don’t want to use ground troops.”Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the BBC Tuesday that sending the pesh merga was “the only way to help Kobane, since other countries don’t want to use ground troops.”
Although Kurds in Syria and Iraq have been among the front-line fighters against the Islamic State, long-standing regional worries about Kurdish autonomy and identity have become a sticking point in organizing forces.Although Kurds in Syria and Iraq have been among the front-line fighters against the Islamic State, long-standing regional worries about Kurdish autonomy and identity have become a sticking point in organizing forces.
Turkey and the United States classify Turkey’s Kurdish rebels as a terrorist group. The Kurdish ethnic homeland encompasses parts of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran.Turkey and the United States classify Turkey’s Kurdish rebels as a terrorist group. The Kurdish ethnic homeland encompasses parts of Syria, Iraq, Turkey and Iran.
Although Turkey eventually agreed to allow the Iraqi pesh merga to pass through its territory to reach Kobane, it imposed restrictions, including limiting the number of fighters allowed to cross, reports said.Although Turkey eventually agreed to allow the Iraqi pesh merga to pass through its territory to reach Kobane, it imposed restrictions, including limiting the number of fighters allowed to cross, reports said.
For the Islamic State, gaining control of Kobane would be a potential propaganda boost. The battle for Kobane has played out within sight of journalists and observers on the Turkish border.For the Islamic State, gaining control of Kobane would be a potential propaganda boost. The battle for Kobane has played out within sight of journalists and observers on the Turkish border.
The pesh merga contingent is unlikely to tip the scales against the well-armed Islamic State militants, but its arrival could open the way for more reinforcements.
The role of the Iraqi Kurds also is unclear. On Sunday, a spokesman for Iraq’s Kurdish region, Safeen Dizayee, was quoted as saying that the pesh merga will not initially engage in combat but will provide artillery support for Kobane’s defenders.
At least four U.S. airstrikes have targeted Islamic State positions around Kobane since Monday, the U.S. Central Command said. Other air attacks by the United States and its allies were launched in Iraq, including one against an Islamic State unit west of Baghdad, the military said.At least four U.S. airstrikes have targeted Islamic State positions around Kobane since Monday, the U.S. Central Command said. Other air attacks by the United States and its allies were launched in Iraq, including one against an Islamic State unit west of Baghdad, the military said.
Brian Murphy reported from Washington; Daniela Deane from London.Brian Murphy reported from Washington; Daniela Deane from London.