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Refugees flee Islamic State bid to claim strategic town as airstrikes expand Refugees flee Islamic State bid to claim strategic town as airstrikes expand
(about 3 hours later)
BEIRUT — Hundreds more refugees in Syria’s Kurdish region streamed toward the Turkish border on Friday as Islamic State fighters seeking to claim a strategic town attempted to break through defensive lines and resist U.S.-led airstrikes, activists and witnesses said. BEIRUT — Islamic State fighters backed by artillery renewed attempts to storm a strategic border city in Syria’s Kurdish region Friday after airstrikes failed to slow the assault, activists and witnesses said.
The battle for Kobane — a Kurdish border town known in Arabic as Ayn al-Arab — is a key test for the strength of Syrian Kurdish forces and the ability of American and Arab warplanes to aid ground forces as part of a widening campaign of air attacks. The battle for Kobane — known in Arabic as Ayn al-Arab — has become a critical showdown. The defense is a key test for the strength of Syrian Kurdish forces and the ability of American and Arab warplanes to aid ground forces as part of a widening campaign of air attacks.
Gaining control of Kobane would give the Islamic State hold over a major stretch of the Syria-Turkish border and open more potential supply lines even as airstrikes try to erode the militants’ financial underpinnings.Gaining control of Kobane would give the Islamic State hold over a major stretch of the Syria-Turkish border and open more potential supply lines even as airstrikes try to erode the militants’ financial underpinnings.
Elsewhere in Syria, airstrikes further targeted oil facilities seized by the Islamic State and part of smuggling networks believed to bring up to $1 million a day, reports said. In Europe, lawmakers in Britain were expected to approve Britain’s entry into the air campaign in Iraq, and Denmark pledged to contribute seven F-16 fighter jets and 250 pilots and support staff also for the Iraq side of the attacks. The clashes also have send hundreds more refugees streaming toward the Turkish border to deepen a humanitarian crisis. More than 140,000 people already fill makeshift camps in Turkey or are huddled on the Syrian side of the barbed wire marking the heavily guarded frontier.
Moustafa Oniedi, a Syrian Kurdish activist based near Kobane, said there are 10,000 Kurdish fighters amassed to defend the city.
“[They] are ready to fight until their last breath,” he said by telephone. “Either they die or they win.”
Elsewhere in Syria, U.S.-led airstrikes further targeted oil facilities seized by the Islamic State and part of smuggling networks believed to bring up to $1 million a day, reports said. In Europe, lawmakers in Britain were expected to approve Britain’s entry into the air campaign in Iraq, and Denmark pledged to contribute seven F-16 fighter jets and 250 pilots and support staff also for the Iraq side of the attacks.
“I believe it is our duty to take part,’’ British Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons.“I believe it is our duty to take part,’’ British Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons.
An activist monitoring Syrian events said at least two airstrikes hit the Kobane area while Kurdish forces reclaimed several villages from retreating Islamic State fighters. The fighting around Kobane has seesawed over the past days.
Meanwhile, refugees fled toward the Turkish border — where more than 140,000 people have flooded into makeshift camps since last week to deepen an already severe humanitarian crisis. Since 2011, an estimated 1.5 million refugees have crossed into Turkey to escape Syria’s civil war. An activist monitoring Syrian events, Abu Jilan, said at least two airstrikes hit the Kobane area while Kurdish forces reclaimed several villages from retreating Islamic State fighters.
Abu Jilan, who runs the watchdog group Raqqah is Being Silently Slaughtered, said it appeared the Islamic State’s attempt to overrun Kobane was halted for the moment. But militant forces were still dug in and able to mount another offensive. “They are no longer making progress,” said Jilan, whose group is named for the Raqqah, a Syrian city on the Euphrates River seen as the de facto capital of the Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate.
“What is significant is that they are no longer making progress,” said Jilan, whose group is named for the Raqqah, a Syrian city on the Euphrates River seen as the de facto capital of the Islamic State’s self-declared caliphate. But the Islamic State fighters regrouped after daybreak and launched a three-pronged attack around Kobane, said the activist Oniedi. He claimed the airstrike did not target frontline Islamic State positions, allowing them to quickly resume the siege.
He said artillery and rockets were fired from some Islamic State positions and clashes moved within several miles of Kobane, whose surrounded villages have been nearly emptied as people fled toward Turkey — hoping they can find someway across the closed border.
The current refu­gee wave is added to an estimated 1.5 million people who have crossed into Turkey to escape Syria’s civil war since 2011.
The Pentagon has not confirmed any airstrikes on the Kobane area, but have given detailed accounts of repeated attacks on oil facilities and suspected Islamic State bases and convoys. The overall strategy appears aimed at crippling the Islamic State’s ability to fund and supply its fighters across Syria and Iraq.The Pentagon has not confirmed any airstrikes on the Kobane area, but have given detailed accounts of repeated attacks on oil facilities and suspected Islamic State bases and convoys. The overall strategy appears aimed at crippling the Islamic State’s ability to fund and supply its fighters across Syria and Iraq.
“The point was to render them incapable of using these refineries, which was a significant stream of revenue for them,” Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Thursday.“The point was to render them incapable of using these refineries, which was a significant stream of revenue for them,” Rear Adm. John F. Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told reporters Thursday.
The latest airstrikes hit oil sites and Islamic State strongholds in the eastern Deir el-Zour province, said reports from the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict. The area also an important cross-border route connecting Islamic State territory in Syria and Iraq.The latest airstrikes hit oil sites and Islamic State strongholds in the eastern Deir el-Zour province, said reports from the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict. The area also an important cross-border route connecting Islamic State territory in Syria and Iraq.
The group said air raids also targeted the headquarters of the Islamic State in the eastern town of Mayadeen.The group said air raids also targeted the headquarters of the Islamic State in the eastern town of Mayadeen.
“There were U.S. airstrikes all night on (Islamic State) positions in the town,” said Yehia, a student in Mayadeen, who asked not to use his full name because of fears of reprisals from militants. “People here are so angry and scared from the airstrikes ... When they start hearing the strikes they hide in their homes.”
Various reports from activists cited casualties, but there were no details or ability to independently verify the claims.Various reports from activists cited casualties, but there were no details or ability to independently verify the claims.
Despite the emphasis on striking oil refineries, the Islamic State makes most of its money from crude oil. So the latest airstrikes will not be enough to shut down the flow of Islamic State oil, analysts said.Despite the emphasis on striking oil refineries, the Islamic State makes most of its money from crude oil. So the latest airstrikes will not be enough to shut down the flow of Islamic State oil, analysts said.
“The airstrikes on the oil refineries were tactically spectacular but strategically insignificant,” said Chris Harmer, a senior analyst with the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War who previously served with the U.S. military in Iraq and Bahrain.“The airstrikes on the oil refineries were tactically spectacular but strategically insignificant,” said Chris Harmer, a senior analyst with the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War who previously served with the U.S. military in Iraq and Bahrain.
“ISIS controls the oil fields. Destroying small oil refineries will just shift production from small refineries controlled by ISIS to micro refineries located in residential neighborhoods,” he said, using one of the acronyms for the Islamic State.“ISIS controls the oil fields. Destroying small oil refineries will just shift production from small refineries controlled by ISIS to micro refineries located in residential neighborhoods,” he said, using one of the acronyms for the Islamic State.
The airstrikes in Syria have included warplanes from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, part of an five-nation Arab coalition supporting the attacks. The Arab states also are leading opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Their assistance in the air campaign is likely tied to promises from the United States to sharply boost military aid to Syrian rebels seeking to oust Assad in a civil war that has claimed nearly 200,000 lives since 2011.The airstrikes in Syria have included warplanes from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, part of an five-nation Arab coalition supporting the attacks. The Arab states also are leading opponents of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Their assistance in the air campaign is likely tied to promises from the United States to sharply boost military aid to Syrian rebels seeking to oust Assad in a civil war that has claimed nearly 200,000 lives since 2011.
France has joined airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq and other European partners — Denmark the latest — have pledged warplanes or military equipment for Iraq. British lawmakers were expected to approve Britain’s entry into the Iraq side of escalating attacks. The motion in the British parliament, however, did not address any potential action in Syria. France has joined airstrikes against Islamic State positions in Iraq and other European partners — Denmark the latest — have pledged warplanes or military equipment to confront the Islamic State in Iraq. British lawmakers were expected to approve Britain’s participation in Iraq. The motion in the British parliament, however, did not address any potential action in Syria.
Pressure mounted in Britain to join the international coalition after the Islamic State released a video earlier this month showing the beheading of David Haines, a British aid worker captured last year. The Islamic State has beheaded several Arab and Western captives, including two American journalists.Pressure mounted in Britain to join the international coalition after the Islamic State released a video earlier this month showing the beheading of David Haines, a British aid worker captured last year. The Islamic State has beheaded several Arab and Western captives, including two American journalists.
Murphy reported from Washington. Craig Whitlock in Washington contributed to this report.Murphy reported from Washington. Craig Whitlock in Washington contributed to this report.