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Airstrikes target Islamic State positions near embattled Kobane Airstrikes target Islamic State positions near embattled Kobane
(about 4 hours later)
Airstrikes believed part of the U.S.-led coalition effort against Islamic State targeted positions held by the jihadists near the embattled Syrian town of Kobane Tuesday, one day after it appeared the militants had broken through defensive lines there. Turkey’s president conceded Tuesday that Islamic State fighters are close to winning control of a strategic Syrian border town and suggested airstrikes alone are not enough to stop further advances by the militants.
Tuesday’s airstrikes came after the Islamic State’s black flag was hoisted near one of the gateways to Kobane on Monday, suggesting the militants had taken control of the strategic town within sight of the Turkish border after weeks of intense fighting. But Recep Tayyip Erdogan appeared to emphasis possible coordination with Syrian militias and rebel forces rather than signaling Turkey was preparing to send its powerful military over the border to confront the Islamic State.
The U.S.-led coalition, which includes several Arab countries, has launched several airstrikes over the past two weeks near Kobane to try to help Kurdish forces defend the town. So far, the strikes do not appear to have been able to slow the militants’ offensive, however. “There has to be cooperation with those who are fighting on the ground,’’ Erdogan said during a visit to a Turkish border camp for Syrian refugees.
NATO-member Turkey has become an increasingly important frontline partner in the international coalition against the Islamic State.
Last week, Turkish lawmakers gave approval to deploy troops in neighboring Syria and Iraq to battle the militants. Turkish tanks and troops have reinforced border posts, which are within sight of battles and airstrikes around the border town of Kobane as Syrian Kurdish fighters tried to hold off a fierce Islamic State offensive.
Turkey, however, has held back from sending its forces across the border despite earlier pledges to defend Kobane. Erdogan said it appears Kobane will soon fall to the Islamic State — which would give the militants control over key stretches of the Turkish-Syrian border.
He instead looked ahead to ways to blunt further Islamic State gains. Erdogan said airstrikes are not sufficient, and called for increased coordination with fighters in Syria — which include Syrian Kurdish militias and a variety of rebel factions that have battled against the government of President Bashar al-Assad since 2011.
Turkey is a staunch backer of the Syrian rebel groups, and has linked its cooperation in the Islamic State fight with expanded efforts to bring down Assad. The Obama administration also has proposed expanding aid to “moderate’’ Syrian rebels as proxy forces against the Islamic State.
So far, however, the main front has been held by Syrian Kurdish militiamen trying to defend besieged Kobane after weeks of fighting. Airstrikes believed part of the U.S.-led coalition targeted Islamic State positions on Tuesday.
The attacks didn’t appear to force any major pullbacks by the Islamic State, whose black flag was raised Monday near one of the gateways to Kobane.
Capturing Kobane would give the Islamic State control over a longer stretch of the Turkish-Syrian border and open potential new smuggling lines for fighters and supplies.Capturing Kobane would give the Islamic State control over a longer stretch of the Turkish-Syrian border and open potential new smuggling lines for fighters and supplies.
NATO member Turkey has authorized its military to cross the border to confront the militant group, but Turkish commanders have held back their tanks and troops from aiding Syrian Kurdish forces trying to hold Kobane. More than 160,000 refugees have fled to Turkey or nearby areas to escape the fighting around Kobane. They joined more than 1.5 million Syrians driven to Turkey by the civil war.
Kobane’s fall also would highlight the limitations of U.S.-led airstrikes to blunt ground offensives by well-armed Islamic State units. In Iraq, the group’s fighters have gained territory against the military and allied militiamen despite facing intensified air attacks. Separately, U.S. military forces used remotely piloted aircraft and helicopters to carry out three strikes in Iraq.
The U.S. military said its forces and those of partner nations conducted three strikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, including south of Kobane, on Sunday and Monday using fighter and remotely piloted aircraft. Separately, U.S. military forces used remotely piloted aircraft and helicopters to carry out three strikes in Iraq.
The deployment of U.S. attack helicopters to the battlefield in Iraq suggests that Iraqi troops need closer air support as they fight Islamic State militants, who have inched nearer to Baghdad in recent weeks.The deployment of U.S. attack helicopters to the battlefield in Iraq suggests that Iraqi troops need closer air support as they fight Islamic State militants, who have inched nearer to Baghdad in recent weeks.
The aircraft are known for their accuracy and can fire missiles from several miles away. They also can help hit mobile targets such as armed trucks or ground troops, said Chris Harmer, a retired Navy helicopter pilot who is now an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War.The aircraft are known for their accuracy and can fire missiles from several miles away. They also can help hit mobile targets such as armed trucks or ground troops, said Chris Harmer, a retired Navy helicopter pilot who is now an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War.
“The more lively the fight is, the more likely you are to need rotary-wing aircraft to assist forces on the ground,” Harmer said.“The more lively the fight is, the more likely you are to need rotary-wing aircraft to assist forces on the ground,” Harmer said.
But because helicopters fly at low altitudes, they are also more vulnerable to rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.But because helicopters fly at low altitudes, they are also more vulnerable to rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons.
The Islamic State has demonstrated its ability to take down aircraft in both Iraq and Syria. Last week, members of the jihadist group shot down an Iraqi helicopter near the Baiji oil refinery in northern Iraq. The group also overran Iraqi army bases in the west, prompting intensified strikes from coalition warplanes over the weekend.The Islamic State has demonstrated its ability to take down aircraft in both Iraq and Syria. Last week, members of the jihadist group shot down an Iraqi helicopter near the Baiji oil refinery in northern Iraq. The group also overran Iraqi army bases in the west, prompting intensified strikes from coalition warplanes over the weekend.
Outside Kobane, meanwhile, the Islamic State has steadily pushed back Syrian Kurdish forces since mid-September as more than 160,000 refugees have fled to Turkey or nearby areas.
Some of the heaviest fighting left more than 45 people dead Sunday, including 10 Islamic State fighters killed by a Kurdish female suicide bomber, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. A Kurdish militia group placed the overall death toll at close to 90.
But the Islamic State appeared to have pushed to the edge of Kobane, also known as Ayn al-Arab in Arabic. The Islamic State’s black banner with Arabic writing was raised over a building at the eastern entrance to the town, according to the Associated Press and other news agencies watching from across the Turkish border.
Clashes flared on several fronts, but it was unclear whether Islamic State fighters were able to penetrate deeper into the town. There are few retreat options for Syrian Kurdish fighters, who may attempt to seek shelter in Turkey if the Islamic State advances — possibly drawing that country further into the conflict.
Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz told reporters that NATO has drawn up a strategy to defend Turkey if it is attacked along its border with Syria. In the event of an attack, he said, “NATO’s joint defense mechanisms will be activated,” according to the AP.
During a visit to Poland, NATO’s secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, promised much the same, saying the alliance will stand by Turkey if it faces attacks from the Islamic State.
“Turkey should know that NATO will be there if there is any spillover, any attacks, on Turkey as a consequence of the violence we see in Syria,” Stoltenberg said at a news conference.
Daniela Deane contributed to this report from Rome.Daniela Deane contributed to this report from Rome.