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| Kobane: IS 'may soon take Syria-Turkey border town' | Kobane: IS 'may soon take Syria-Turkey border town' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The key Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane might fall to Islamic State (IS) fighters soon, an official there has told the BBC. | The key Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane might fall to Islamic State (IS) fighters soon, an official there has told the BBC. |
| A flag appearing to be that of Islamic State has been seen flying over a building on the eastern edge of Kobane. | A flag appearing to be that of Islamic State has been seen flying over a building on the eastern edge of Kobane. |
| The official, Idriss Nassan, said IS was now in control of Mistenur, the strategic hill above the city. | The official, Idriss Nassan, said IS was now in control of Mistenur, the strategic hill above the city. |
| Kobane has seen intense fighting over the past three days as Syrian Kurds try to defend the town. | Kobane has seen intense fighting over the past three days as Syrian Kurds try to defend the town. |
| US-led forces have been conducting air strikes on IS positions in the area to try to slow their advance. | US-led forces have been conducting air strikes on IS positions in the area to try to slow their advance. |
| There were unconfirmed reports of another such strike overnight. | There were unconfirmed reports of another such strike overnight. |
| The IS militants have been besieging the town for nearly three weeks. More than 160,000 Syrians, mainly Kurds, have fled across the border since the offensive was launched. | The IS militants have been besieging the town for nearly three weeks. More than 160,000 Syrians, mainly Kurds, have fled across the border since the offensive was launched. |
| Capturing the town would give IS unbroken control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. | |
| Thousands of civilians | Thousands of civilians |
| The BBC's Paul Adams, near the border, says the sound of gunfire overnight was intense and is still going on, with large plumes of smoke over Kobane. | The BBC's Paul Adams, near the border, says the sound of gunfire overnight was intense and is still going on, with large plumes of smoke over Kobane. |
| He says the situation appears critical for the defenders of the town. | He says the situation appears critical for the defenders of the town. |
| Mr Nassan told the BBC there were still thousands of civilians in Kobane. | Mr Nassan told the BBC there were still thousands of civilians in Kobane. |
| He said IS was now in control of Mistenur and that, in theory, gave the attackers a huge strategic advantage. But Mr Nassan said IS was not yet firing down into the town from the hill. | He said IS was now in control of Mistenur and that, in theory, gave the attackers a huge strategic advantage. But Mr Nassan said IS was not yet firing down into the town from the hill. |
| He said there was shelling in all parts of Kobane, adding: "Yes, it will certainly fall soon." | He said there was shelling in all parts of Kobane, adding: "Yes, it will certainly fall soon." |
| Mr Nassan could not say how long this would take, but added: "I'm not going to give up my home and my country easily." | Mr Nassan could not say how long this would take, but added: "I'm not going to give up my home and my country easily." |
| Esmat al-Sheikh, head of the Kobane Defence Authority, told Reuters news agency: "If they enter, it will be a graveyard for us and for them. We either win or die. We will resist to the end." | |
| On Sunday a Kurdish woman in Kobane killed a number of IS fighters in a suicide bomb attack, Kurdish sources said. | On Sunday a Kurdish woman in Kobane killed a number of IS fighters in a suicide bomb attack, Kurdish sources said. |
| Turkish Kurds and refugees have clashed with Turkish security forces on the border for the past two days. | Turkish Kurds and refugees have clashed with Turkish security forces on the border for the past two days. |
| They are angry and disappointed at Turkey's perceived inaction over IS in recent months, as well as its refusal to allow them to cross into Syria to fight. | They are angry and disappointed at Turkey's perceived inaction over IS in recent months, as well as its refusal to allow them to cross into Syria to fight. |
| Last week, Turkey pledged to prevent Kobane from falling to the militants and its parliament authorised military operations against militants in Iraq and Syria. | Last week, Turkey pledged to prevent Kobane from falling to the militants and its parliament authorised military operations against militants in Iraq and Syria. |
| But it appears to have taken no action so far to prevent the fighting. | But it appears to have taken no action so far to prevent the fighting. |
| Correspondents says Turkey is reluctant to lend support to the Kurdish forces in the town because they are allied to the PKK, banned as a terrorist organisation in Turkey. | Correspondents says Turkey is reluctant to lend support to the Kurdish forces in the town because they are allied to the PKK, banned as a terrorist organisation in Turkey. |
| KOBANE KEY FACTS: |