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| Islamic State tightens siege of Syria border town Kobane | Islamic State tightens siege of Syria border town Kobane |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Islamic State militants are advancing on the Syrian town of Kobane, where they are battling Kurdish fighters. | Islamic State militants are advancing on the Syrian town of Kobane, where they are battling Kurdish fighters. |
| The clashes are visible from Turkey, where some protesters have stormed a border fence to go to defend the town. | The clashes are visible from Turkey, where some protesters have stormed a border fence to go to defend the town. |
| Earlier, the US said it had destroyed four tanks and damaged another during a fourth night of bombardments in Syria. | Earlier, the US said it had destroyed four tanks and damaged another during a fourth night of bombardments in Syria. |
| The UK parliament has voted to conduct air strikes against IS in Iraq, while Belgium and Denmark have also announced they will take part in the operation. | |
| IS controls much of north-eastern Syria and earlier this year seized swathes of territory in neighbouring Iraq, including the second city, Mosul. | IS controls much of north-eastern Syria and earlier this year seized swathes of territory in neighbouring Iraq, including the second city, Mosul. |
| Some Western leaders are wary of bombing Syria, as the government there has not asked for foreign assistance against IS, unlike Iraq. | Some Western leaders are wary of bombing Syria, as the government there has not asked for foreign assistance against IS, unlike Iraq. |
| IS fighters have besieged Kobane, leading some 140,000 people to flee into Turkey over the past week. | IS fighters have besieged Kobane, leading some 140,000 people to flee into Turkey over the past week. |
| US strikes | US strikes |
| The latest US strikes were carried out by both fighter jets and drones. | The latest US strikes were carried out by both fighter jets and drones. |
| The tanks were destroyed in the oil-rich Deir al-Zour province, the US Department of Defense said in a statement. | The tanks were destroyed in the oil-rich Deir al-Zour province, the US Department of Defense said in a statement. |
| It also said strikes in Iraq had destroyed nine IS vehicles and damaged others. | It also said strikes in Iraq had destroyed nine IS vehicles and damaged others. |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the conflict in Syria, said the number of casualties was unclear. | |
| Recent air strikes have been targeting oil facilities under IS control in both countries in order to reduce its finances. | Recent air strikes have been targeting oil facilities under IS control in both countries in order to reduce its finances. |
| The militant group is earning an estimated $2m (£1.2m) a day from oil sales. | The militant group is earning an estimated $2m (£1.2m) a day from oil sales. |
| IS has killed three Western hostages in recent weeks. | IS has killed three Western hostages in recent weeks. |
| On Thursday, the European Union's anti-terrorism chief told the BBC that about 3,000 Europeans had gone to join armed Islamist groups in the region. | On Thursday, the European Union's anti-terrorism chief told the BBC that about 3,000 Europeans had gone to join armed Islamist groups in the region. |
| Gilles de Kerchove also warned that Western air strikes would increase the risk of retaliatory attacks in Europe. | Gilles de Kerchove also warned that Western air strikes would increase the risk of retaliatory attacks in Europe. |
| Where do Islamic State's foreign fighters come from? | Where do Islamic State's foreign fighters come from? |
| Earlier, Spain's interior ministry said Spanish and Moroccan police had arrested nine people suspected of belonging to a militant cell linked to the IS group. | Earlier, Spain's interior ministry said Spanish and Moroccan police had arrested nine people suspected of belonging to a militant cell linked to the IS group. |
| A statement from the ministry said the suspects belonged to a group based in the Spanish enclave of Melilla, on the northern coast of Africa, and the neighbouring town of Nador, in Morocco. | A statement from the ministry said the suspects belonged to a group based in the Spanish enclave of Melilla, on the northern coast of Africa, and the neighbouring town of Nador, in Morocco. |
| One of those arrested is reported to be Spanish; the rest are Moroccan nationals. | One of those arrested is reported to be Spanish; the rest are Moroccan nationals. |
| Earlier this week, the UN Security Council adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals from joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria. | Earlier this week, the UN Security Council adopted a binding resolution compelling states to prevent their nationals from joining jihadists in Iraq and Syria. |
| US President Barack Obama this week urged other countries to take part in the fight against IS, calling it a "network of death". | US President Barack Obama this week urged other countries to take part in the fight against IS, calling it a "network of death". |
| More than 40 countries, including several from the Middle East, have offered to join in, US officials say. | More than 40 countries, including several from the Middle East, have offered to join in, US officials say. |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |