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Islamic State crisis: Heavy fighting on Iraq-Syria border Islamic State crisis: Heavy fighting on Iraq-Syria border
(35 minutes later)
Heavy fighting is reported on both sides of a key border crossing between Iraq and Syria, where Kurdish forces are fighting Islamic State militants. Heavy fighting is reported on both sides of a key border crossing between Iraq and Syria, where Kurdish forces are battling Islamic State militants.
Iraqi Kurdish troops are said to have taken heavy casualties during an offensive on the town of Rabia. Iraqi Kurdish troops are said to have recaptured the town of Rabia, but suffered heavy casualties.
Meanwhile, IS fighters have been trying to dislodge Syrian Kurdish forces on the other side of the border.Meanwhile, IS fighters have been trying to dislodge Syrian Kurdish forces on the other side of the border.
It comes amid continuing air strikes by a US-led coalition on IS targets both in Syria and Iraq.It comes amid continuing air strikes by a US-led coalition on IS targets both in Syria and Iraq.
Also on Tuesday, a series of deadly bomb attacks were reported in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and the holy Shia city of Karbala.Also on Tuesday, a series of deadly bomb attacks were reported in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and the holy Shia city of Karbala.
In a separate development, Turkish tanks have taken up positions on a hill along the border near the Syrian town of Kobane after several shells hit Turkish territory during clashes between IS militants and Kurdish fighters.In a separate development, Turkish tanks have taken up positions on a hill along the border near the Syrian town of Kobane after several shells hit Turkish territory during clashes between IS militants and Kurdish fighters.
The Turkish government is expected to send a motion to parliament, authorising military action against IS in Iraq and Syria.The Turkish government is expected to send a motion to parliament, authorising military action against IS in Iraq and Syria.
Suicide bombersSuicide bombers
Senior Iraqi Kurdish officials said their Peshmerga special forces made good initial progress during their offensive in Rabia, which they said had been largely recaptured from IS fighters. Senior Iraqi Kurdish officials said their Peshmerga special forces made good initial progress during their dawn offensive in Rabia.
"Ground troops are now fighting in the centre of Rabia," a senior Peshmerga source was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. They later said they had regained control of the town and the border, but that fighting was still going on around some pockets of resistance.
Rabia lies about 100km (60 miles) north-west of Mosul - the city controlled by IS.Rabia lies about 100km (60 miles) north-west of Mosul - the city controlled by IS.
But the Iraqi Kurdish forces also took heavy casualties - including the loss of a senior commander - when three suicide car bombers blew themselves up among the Kurdish troops.But the Iraqi Kurdish forces also took heavy casualties - including the loss of a senior commander - when three suicide car bombers blew themselves up among the Kurdish troops.
The bombers are believed to have travelled from IS-controlled areas further east.The bombers are believed to have travelled from IS-controlled areas further east.
The Kurds believed they had air cover from US jets that would prevent any IS reinforcements from being brought up, and there is considerable bitterness that the attackers managed to get through, the BBC's Jim Muir in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil reports.The Kurds believed they had air cover from US jets that would prevent any IS reinforcements from being brought up, and there is considerable bitterness that the attackers managed to get through, the BBC's Jim Muir in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil reports.
Our correspondent says that the other side of the border is controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters, who themselves have been coming under attacks from IS. Our correspondent says control of the Rabia crossing and cutting IS supply lines are seen as important steps towards an eventual move to regain another important area that the militants overran in August: the town of Sinjar and its nearby mountain, from where tens of thousands of civilians from the minority Yazidi community fled for their lives.
The other side of the border is controlled by Syrian Kurdish fighters, who themselves have been coming under attacks from IS.
More than 30 Syrian Kurdish fighters are reported to have been killed as the jihadists took over several villages south of the border crossing.More than 30 Syrian Kurdish fighters are reported to have been killed as the jihadists took over several villages south of the border crossing.
However, the crossing itself is said to be still under Kurdish control.However, the crossing itself is said to be still under Kurdish control.
IS militants have recently seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria, proclaiming a caliphate (or an Islamic state) there.IS militants have recently seized large swathes of Iraq and Syria, proclaiming a caliphate (or an Islamic state) there.
Who are Islamic State (IS)?Who are Islamic State (IS)?