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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. | 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. |
| After seven hours of debate, British MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of air strikes, and six RAF Tornados could be called into action over the weekend. | |
| Prime Minister David Cameron told MPs: "This is about psychopathic terrorists that are trying to kill us and we do have to realise that, whether we like it or not, they have already declared war on us." | |
| Denmark's government has agreed to send seven F-16s, while Belgian lawmakers said they would send six. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | 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 income. | |
| 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. |
| Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |