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US-led air strikes hit IS on Syria's border with Turkey | US-led air strikes hit IS on Syria's border with Turkey |
(34 minutes later) | |
US-led coalition air strikes have hit Islamic State (IS) targets near the besieged Syrian town of Kobane on the border with Turkey, the Pentagon says. | US-led coalition air strikes have hit Islamic State (IS) targets near the besieged Syrian town of Kobane on the border with Turkey, the Pentagon says. |
An IS building and two "armed vehicles" were destroyed at the Kobane border crossing, US Central Command announced. | An IS building and two "armed vehicles" were destroyed at the Kobane border crossing, US Central Command announced. |
Other strikes hit IS targets elsewhere in Syria and in northern Iraq. | Other strikes hit IS targets elsewhere in Syria and in northern Iraq. |
Kurdish fighters have been defending Kobane against IS since some 140,000 civilians fled the town and surrounding area for Turkey. | Kurdish fighters have been defending Kobane against IS since some 140,000 civilians fled the town and surrounding area for Turkey. |
IS shelled Kobane on Saturday and several people were killed, the BBC's Paul Wood reports from the scene. | |
The coalition air strikes did not appear to prevent skirmishes during the night between IS and the Kurdish defenders, our correspondent says. | |
In the latest coalition action, Saudi, Jordanian and UAE forces joined the US in launching fighter and drone strikes. According to the Pentagon | In the latest coalition action, Saudi, Jordanian and UAE forces joined the US in launching fighter and drone strikes. According to the Pentagon |
All the aircraft involved returned safely, the US military said. | All the aircraft involved returned safely, the US military said. |
At the scene: Paul Wood, Kobane | At the scene: Paul Wood, Kobane |
The sound of warplanes circling overhead is nearly constant. And in the early hours of the morning people heard what they said were multiple air strikes against Islamic State positions. | The sound of warplanes circling overhead is nearly constant. And in the early hours of the morning people heard what they said were multiple air strikes against Islamic State positions. |
Not before time, say the Kurdish forces defending this place. They are in the fight of their lives, with the jihadis now just a 10-minute drive from the town, and threatening to push further. | Not before time, say the Kurdish forces defending this place. They are in the fight of their lives, with the jihadis now just a 10-minute drive from the town, and threatening to push further. |
At the last Kurdish position outside Kobane last night bullets whined overhead and shells fell either side of the main road to the town. | At the last Kurdish position outside Kobane last night bullets whined overhead and shells fell either side of the main road to the town. |
The Kurds are grateful for the air strikes, but the battle for Kobane is far from over. | The Kurds are grateful for the air strikes, but the battle for Kobane is far from over. |
Turkish troops have been trying to prevent Turkish and Syrian Kurds crossing the border to help defend Kobane, Paul Wood reports. | |
Several thousand Kurdish refugees are stuck at the railway line which marks the border with Turkey along with their sheep and cattle. | |
The problem is that, as refugees, they cannot take their animals, their livelihoods, with them but they believe they will be killed if they turn back. | |
Coalition growing | Coalition growing |
On Friday the UK became the latest nation to join the US-led coalition against IS, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq after rapid advances in the summer. | On Friday the UK became the latest nation to join the US-led coalition against IS, which controls large swathes of Syria and Iraq after rapid advances in the summer. |
MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of air strikes in Iraq, but not in Syria. | MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of air strikes in Iraq, but not in Syria. |
Two of six RAF Tornados based in Cyprus have carried out their first combat mission over Iraq since the British Parliament authorised air strikes targeting IS. | Two of six RAF Tornados based in Cyprus have carried out their first combat mission over Iraq since the British Parliament authorised air strikes targeting IS. |
They had flown out loaded with laser-guided bombs and missiles, and were followed by an RAF refuelling tanker. | They had flown out loaded with laser-guided bombs and missiles, and were followed by an RAF refuelling tanker. |
The UK also has a Rivet Joint spy plane in the region. | The UK also has a Rivet Joint spy plane in the region. |
UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said "intensified surveillance" would identify "convoys" of IS fighters. | UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said "intensified surveillance" would identify "convoys" of IS fighters. |
Speaking to BBC's Newsnight, he warned the campaign would be "long and drawn out". | Speaking to BBC's Newsnight, he warned the campaign would be "long and drawn out". |
French fighter jets are already taking part in strikes in Iraq with Belgium and the Netherlands each pledging six F-16s planes and Denmark deploying seven. | French fighter jets are already taking part in strikes in Iraq with Belgium and the Netherlands each pledging six F-16s planes and Denmark deploying seven. |
About 40 countries, including several from the Middle East, have joined the US-led coalition against IS. | About 40 countries, including several from the Middle East, have joined the US-led coalition against IS. |
European countries have so far only agreed to strike targets in Iraq where the government has asked for help. | European countries have so far only agreed to strike targets in Iraq where the government has asked for help. |
Who are Islamic State (IS)? | Who are Islamic State (IS)? |