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Syria IS: Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces 'cross into Kobane' | |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga forces have crossed the Turkish border to help defend the Syrian town of Kobane from Islamic State. | |
Sources inside the town told BBC Arabic the unit was heading to the frontline about 4km west of Kobane. | Sources inside the town told BBC Arabic the unit was heading to the frontline about 4km west of Kobane. |
Turkey finally authorised the Iraqi Kurds to cross the border last week. | Turkey finally authorised the Iraqi Kurds to cross the border last week. |
Kobane has been under siege for six weeks in a battle that has left 800 dead and forced more than 200,000 to flee across the Turkish border. | Kobane has been under siege for six weeks in a battle that has left 800 dead and forced more than 200,000 to flee across the Turkish border. |
Some 150 Peshmerga fighters had mustered at a holding station about 8 km (5 miles) from Kobane three days ago and on Friday set off towards the town in a dozen jeeps, escorted by armoured vehicles. | Some 150 Peshmerga fighters had mustered at a holding station about 8 km (5 miles) from Kobane three days ago and on Friday set off towards the town in a dozen jeeps, escorted by armoured vehicles. |
The Peshmerga waved flags, gave victory signs and chanted "Kobane, Kobane". | The Peshmerga waved flags, gave victory signs and chanted "Kobane, Kobane". |
It is not clear just how many have travelled to Kobane, which is populated largely by Syrian Kurds. | It is not clear just how many have travelled to Kobane, which is populated largely by Syrian Kurds. |
'Boosts morale' | 'Boosts morale' |
A group of 10 Peshmerga had entered Kobane earlier in the week on a scouting mission. | A group of 10 Peshmerga had entered Kobane earlier in the week on a scouting mission. |
The vanguard had discussed deployment and strategy. | The vanguard had discussed deployment and strategy. |
A senior Kurdish official in Kobane, Anwar Muslim, told Associated Press: "When the Peshmerga and People's Protection Units are fighting together, this boosts the morale of the Kurdish people." | A senior Kurdish official in Kobane, Anwar Muslim, told Associated Press: "When the Peshmerga and People's Protection Units are fighting together, this boosts the morale of the Kurdish people." |
The Peshmerga are thought to be equipped with heavy machineguns and anti-tank missiles. | The Peshmerga are thought to be equipped with heavy machineguns and anti-tank missiles. |
The defenders have said such weapons are essential for holding off Islamic State. | The defenders have said such weapons are essential for holding off Islamic State. |
The US-led coalition is supporting the defenders with air strikes. | The US-led coalition is supporting the defenders with air strikes. |
US Central Command's latest report listed four air strikes on Thursday and Friday around Kobane, "damaging four IS fighting positions and one IS building". | US Central Command's latest report listed four air strikes on Thursday and Friday around Kobane, "damaging four IS fighting positions and one IS building". |
In an unexpected shift last week, Ankara succumbed to US pressure to allow Kurds through to join the conflict in Syria. The Turkish authorities have been facing a decades-long insurgency by their own Kurds. | In an unexpected shift last week, Ankara succumbed to US pressure to allow Kurds through to join the conflict in Syria. The Turkish authorities have been facing a decades-long insurgency by their own Kurds. |
Syria has condemned Turkey's decision to allow Iraqi fighters to transit through, describing it as a "blatant violation" of its sovereignty. | Syria has condemned Turkey's decision to allow Iraqi fighters to transit through, describing it as a "blatant violation" of its sovereignty. |
IS has declared the formation of a caliphate in the large swathes of Syria and Iraq it has seized since 2013. | IS has declared the formation of a caliphate in the large swathes of Syria and Iraq it has seized since 2013. |
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