This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/18/islamic-state-isis-militants-seize-kurdish-villages-northern-syria

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Islamic State militants seize Kurdish villages in northern Syria Islamic State militants seize Kurdish villages in northern Syria
(35 minutes later)
Islamic State (Isis) fighters have captured villages and besieged a Kurdish city in northern Syria near the border with Turkey in a major assault that prompted a commander to appeal for military aid from other Kurds in the region.Islamic State (Isis) fighters have captured villages and besieged a Kurdish city in northern Syria near the border with Turkey in a major assault that prompted a commander to appeal for military aid from other Kurds in the region.
With the United States planning to expand military action against Isis from Iraq to Syria, a surveillance drone was spotted for the first time over nearby Isis-controlled territory in Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks Syria's civil war, said on Thursday.With the United States planning to expand military action against Isis from Iraq to Syria, a surveillance drone was spotted for the first time over nearby Isis-controlled territory in Aleppo province, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks Syria's civil war, said on Thursday.
It was not immediately clear who was operating the drone.It was not immediately clear who was operating the drone.
The US president, Barack Obama, last week said he would not hesitate to strike the radical Islamist group that has used Syria as a base to advance its plan to reshape the Middle East. President Barack Obama said last week that he would not hesitate to strike the radical Islamist group that has used Syria as a base to advance its plan to reshape the Middle East.
The US is conducting air strikes against Isis in Iraq and last month Obama authorised surveillance flights over Syria.The US is conducting air strikes against Isis in Iraq and last month Obama authorised surveillance flights over Syria.
In an advance near the border with Turkey, Isis fighters using heavy weaponry including tanks seized a group of Kurdish villages near the city of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani. The Observatory said 21 villages had fallen to Isis fighters advancing on the city.In an advance near the border with Turkey, Isis fighters using heavy weaponry including tanks seized a group of Kurdish villages near the city of Ayn al-Arab, also known as Kobani. The Observatory said 21 villages had fallen to Isis fighters advancing on the city.
"We've lost touch with many of the residents living in the villages that Isis seized," Ocalan Iso, deputy head of the Kurdish forces in Kobani, told Reuters via Skype."We've lost touch with many of the residents living in the villages that Isis seized," Ocalan Iso, deputy head of the Kurdish forces in Kobani, told Reuters via Skype.
He said the group was committing massacres and kidnapping women in the newly-seized areas. It was not possible to immediately verify his account. He said the group was committing massacres and kidnapping women in the newly seized areas. It was not possible to immediately verify his account.
The Kurds were appealing for military aid from other Kurdish groups in the region including the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK), he said. Support from Kurdish fighters who crossed from Turkey helped to repel an Isis attack on Kobani in July.The Kurds were appealing for military aid from other Kurdish groups in the region including the Kurdistan Workers' party (PKK), he said. Support from Kurdish fighters who crossed from Turkey helped to repel an Isis attack on Kobani in July.
The Observatory said there were fears of massacres in the areas seized by Isis. "This is a very important advance for them," Rami Abdulrahman, the Observatory's founder, told Reuters, speaking by phone.The Observatory said there were fears of massacres in the areas seized by Isis. "This is a very important advance for them," Rami Abdulrahman, the Observatory's founder, told Reuters, speaking by phone.
Redur Xelil, spokesman for the main armed Kurdish group in Syria, the YPG, said Isis had encircled Kobani. Redur Xelil, spokesman for the main armed Kurdish group in Syria, the YPG, said Isis had encircled Kobani. The group was using tanks, rockets and artillery in the attack. "We call on world powers to move to halt this barbaric assault by Isis," he told Reuters via Skype.
The group was using tanks, rockets and artillery in the attack. "We call on world powers to move to halt this barbaric assault by Isis," he told Reuters via Skype.
Isis has been trying to establish control over a belt of territory near the border with Turkey, expanding out of its strongholds further east in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, which borders Iraq.Isis has been trying to establish control over a belt of territory near the border with Turkey, expanding out of its strongholds further east in the provinces of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, which borders Iraq.
The group advanced westwards into northern Aleppo province in August, seizing territory from less well-armed groups that have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces.The group advanced westwards into northern Aleppo province in August, seizing territory from less well-armed groups that have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad's forces.
Since Obama authorised aerial surveillance over Syria, activists have reported drones in the skies over Raqqa, which is 250 miles (400km), north-east of Damascus. Since Obama authorised aerial surveillance over Syria, activists have reported drones in the skies over Raqqa, which is 250 miles north-east of Damascus.
Residents had seen at least one drone over the Isis-controlled towns of al-Bab and Manbij in north-eastern Aleppo province on Thursday, said Abdulrahman.Residents had seen at least one drone over the Isis-controlled towns of al-Bab and Manbij in north-eastern Aleppo province on Thursday, said Abdulrahman.
"They hadn't seen them before," he said. Isis had evacuated buildings it was using as offices in the area, he added."They hadn't seen them before," he said. Isis had evacuated buildings it was using as offices in the area, he added.
It reflects the pattern in other Isis-controlled areas of Syria. In apparent anticipation of US action, the group has evacuated bases and moved its fighters and heavy weaponry.It reflects the pattern in other Isis-controlled areas of Syria. In apparent anticipation of US action, the group has evacuated bases and moved its fighters and heavy weaponry.
Al-Bab is 40km north-east of Aleppo, which is a crucial theatre of the war between Assad and the insurgents. Assad's forces and his opponents are battling for control of the city. Al-Bab is 25 miles north-east of Aleppo, which is a crucial theatre of the war between Assad and the insurgents. Assad's forces and his opponents are battling for control of the city.
The top US military officer said on Tuesday the United States was planning "a persistent and sustainable campaign" against Isis in Syria. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the US was not preparing to unleash a "shock and awe" campaign of overwhelming air strikes in Syria.The top US military officer said on Tuesday the United States was planning "a persistent and sustainable campaign" against Isis in Syria. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said the US was not preparing to unleash a "shock and awe" campaign of overwhelming air strikes in Syria.