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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 4 hours later)
Reinforcements moved into the embattled Syrian border town of Kobane on Wednesday as a small force of Syrian rebels joined the fight against the Islamic State and a separate group of Kurdish militiamen prepared to follow.Reinforcements moved into the embattled Syrian border town of Kobane on Wednesday as a small force of Syrian rebels joined the fight against the Islamic State and a separate group of Kurdish militiamen prepared to follow.
The two-track movement of weapons and fighters marked a long-awaited boost for Kobane’s Syrian Kurdish defenders, who have been aided by intensified U.S. airstrikes yet remain outgunned by Islamic State units in street by street clashes.The two-track movement of weapons and fighters marked a long-awaited boost for Kobane’s Syrian Kurdish defenders, who have been aided by intensified U.S. airstrikes yet remain outgunned by Islamic State units in street by street clashes.
But it also appears to highlight the interests of neighboring Turkey in the showdown for the town.But it also appears to highlight the interests of neighboring Turkey in the showdown for the town.
Turkey wants Syrian rebels — rather than Kurdish forces alone — to have control of Kobane if the Islamic State advance is thwarted. A 50-member Syrian rebel forces was allowed to cross from Turkey to reach Kobane ahead of a larger contingent of Kurdish fighters, which came by road convoy and plane from northern Iraq. Turkey wants Syrian rebels — rather than Kurdish forces alone — to have control of Kobane if the Islamic State advance is thwarted. A force of about 50 Syrian rebels was allowed to cross from Turkey to reach Kobane ahead of a larger contingent of Kurdish fighters, which came by road convoy and plane from northern Iraq.
NATO-member Turkey is wary about empowering further bonds among Kurds — whose ethnic homeland stretches across four nations — as part of the wider fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Turkey has faced an insurgency by Turkish Kurds seeking greater rights since the 1980s.NATO-member Turkey is wary about empowering further bonds among Kurds — whose ethnic homeland stretches across four nations — as part of the wider fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Turkey has faced an insurgency by Turkish Kurds seeking greater rights since the 1980s.
At the same time, Turkey is a main backer of rebel factions that have tried to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.At the same time, Turkey is a main backer of rebel factions that have tried to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.
The multi-layered political calculations by Turkey are just part of the regional tensions and rivalries complicating the U.S.-led alliance confronting the Islamic State.The multi-layered political calculations by Turkey are just part of the regional tensions and rivalries complicating the U.S.-led alliance confronting the Islamic State.
While various fronts are being waged against the Islamic State — including battles close to Baghdad — the struggle for Kobane has remained at the forefront. While various fronts are being waged — the Islamic State claimed it executed at least 46 opponents in Iraq on Wednesday — the struggle for Kobane has remained at the forefront.
Gaining control of the town could provide a significant propaganda platform for the Islamic State as the battles unfold in sight of international media and observers just over the border in Turkey.Gaining control of the town could provide a significant propaganda platform for the Islamic State as the battles unfold in sight of international media and observers just over the border in Turkey.
On Monday, the Islamic State issued a video with one of its Western hostages, British journalist John Cantlie, used as a spokesman to claim the militants have control of large areas of Kobane after intense “urban warfare.”On Monday, the Islamic State issued a video with one of its Western hostages, British journalist John Cantlie, used as a spokesman to claim the militants have control of large areas of Kobane after intense “urban warfare.”
Under pressure from Western allies, Turkey last week agreed to let the fighters from Iraq travel across Turkey to reach Kobane. The limited number of fresh forces are unlikely to tip the scales, and it remains unclear whether the Syrian rebels and Kurdish forces with coordinate or fight separately. But the twin deployments could open the way for more reinforcements.Under pressure from Western allies, Turkey last week agreed to let the fighters from Iraq travel across Turkey to reach Kobane. The limited number of fresh forces are unlikely to tip the scales, and it remains unclear whether the Syrian rebels and Kurdish forces with coordinate or fight separately. But the twin deployments could open the way for more reinforcements.
The first to cross Wednesday was the unit from the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella group of various Western-leaning factions in Syria’s civil war. Idriss Nassan, a Kurdish official from Kobane, told the Associated Press that the fighters traveled by car via Turkey’s Mursitpinar border crossing, but had no further details.The first to cross Wednesday was the unit from the Free Syrian Army, an umbrella group of various Western-leaning factions in Syria’s civil war. Idriss Nassan, a Kurdish official from Kobane, told the Associated Press that the fighters traveled by car via Turkey’s Mursitpinar border crossing, but had no further details.
In the wings were 150 Iraqi Kurdish militiamen, known as pesh merga, who have assembled in Turkey.In the wings were 150 Iraqi Kurdish militiamen, known as pesh merga, who have assembled in Turkey.
Some arrived by plane under tight security, the Reuters news agency reported. Others came by a road convoy that left northern Iraq on Tuesday amid cheers from backers waving Kurdish flags.Some arrived by plane under tight security, the Reuters news agency reported. Others came by a road convoy that left northern Iraq on Tuesday amid cheers from backers waving Kurdish flags.
The Kurds are expected to bring anti-tank and anti-armor weapons into Kobane later Wednesday, a Syrian Kurdish official told the Reuters news agency.The Kurds are expected to bring anti-tank and anti-armor weapons into Kobane later Wednesday, a Syrian Kurdish official told the Reuters news agency.
Saleh Moslem, co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party, said the Islamic State has been able to make gains with its tanks and other armored vehicles apparently looted from armories and bases.Saleh Moslem, co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party, said the Islamic State has been able to make gains with its tanks and other armored vehicles apparently looted from armories and bases.
“So now, this will give support,” he said.“So now, this will give support,” he said.
In other fighting, a monitoring group reported Wednesday that Islamic State militants had killed at least 30 Syrian government and allied fighters in an assault on a Syrian gas field. The attack Tuesday marked some of the worst battles between Islamic State and forces loyal to Assad as the militants try to gain control of more of the region’s energy infrastructure. In other fighting, Islamic State militants had killed at least 30 Syrian government and allied fighters in an assault on a Syrian gas field, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Government forces last month recaptured the Sha’ar field, just east of the embattled central city of Homs.
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 last month recaptured the field, just east of the embattled central city of Homs.
The monitoring group said Islamic State militants also seized three wells in Tuesday's attack.
In Kobane, meanwhile, intensified U.S.-led airstrikes so far failed to break the siege, which has sent more than 200,000 refugees fleeing to Turkey.In Kobane, meanwhile, intensified U.S.-led airstrikes so far failed to break the siege, which has sent more than 200,000 refugees fleeing to Turkey.
At least eight American air attacks were carried out in the Kobane area since Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command said, targeting Islamic State positions, vehicles and a “command and control node.”At least eight American air attacks were carried out in the Kobane area since Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command said, targeting Islamic State positions, vehicles and a “command and control node.”
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 for three decades. Turkey has military units deployed on its border with Syria but has refused to launch a solo ground offensive into Kobane. Turkey also opposes stronger ties between the Syrian Kurds and Turkey’s Kurds, who have waged a guerrilla campaign against the Turkish government for three decades.
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told the BBC on Tuesday that sending the pesh merga and other forces 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 on Tuesday that sending the pesh merga and other forces was “the only way to help Kobane, since other countries don’t want to use ground troops.”
But Davutoglu made it clear that he wants Syrian rebels in control of Kobane if the Islamic State if driven back. He insisted an “integrated strategy” is needed — a reference to Turkish demands that the anti-Assad forces must be strengthened as part of the overall fight in Syria. But Davutoglu made it clear that he wants Syrian rebels to have a voice in Kobane if the Islamic State if driven back. He insisted an “integrated strategy” is needed — a reference to Turkish demands that the anti-Assad forces must be strengthened as part of the overall fight in Syria.
Deane reported from London. In Iraq, the Islamic State claimed it publicly executed 46 tribesmen in the western city of Hit, which was seized by the militants earlier this month. Residents confirmed the men — mostly members of the Albu Nimr tribe — had been killed in a city square.
The tribe had been holding off Islamic State advances in and around Hit for months.
The Islamic State began arresting men from the Albu Nimr shortly after the militants took control of the city, said a 32-year-old resident who declined to be named for security reasons.
“Then they gathered them in al-Bakir square at 11 a.m. today, hands bound, and shot them all,” said the resident. He claimed to have twice counted the men lined up and put the number killed at 47.
Deane reported from London. Mustafa Salim in Baghdad contributed to this report.