This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/airstrikes-target-islamic-state-positions-near-embattled-kobane/2014/10/07/122c9a76-1bba-4c8c-a3df-16e5a0545bb0_story.html?wprss=rss_world

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Airstrikes target Islamic State positions near embattled Kobane Airstrikes target Islamic State positions near embattled Kobane
(34 minutes later)
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. Turkey’s president conceded Tuesday that Islamic State fighters were close to taking control of a strategic Syrian border town and suggested airstrikes alone were not enough to stop further advances by the militants.
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 comments by Recep Tayyip Erdogan — during a visit near the Syrian frontier — came as Islamic State forces appeared to tighten their grip around the besieged Syrian Kurdish town of Kobane despite intensified attacks from U.S. warplanes.
“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. “Kobane is about to fall,” he told Syrian refugees in the Turkish town of Gaziantep just days after Turkish leaders vowed to keep Kobane out of Islamic State hands.
NATO-member Turkey has become an increasingly important frontline partner in the international coalition against the Islamic State. Erdogan urged for greater coordination with “those who are fighting on the ground,” but gave no signals that NATO-member Turkey was preparing to send its powerful military over the border to confront 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. Instead, he urged for more international assistance to Syrian rebel factions — some closely backed by Turkey — that have battled since 2011 against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
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. It further underscored Turkey’s parallel objectives in the Islamic State fight.
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 seeks to create an internationally protected buffer zone to block refu­gee flow and give possible safe havens for anti-Assad rebels. It also shares the goal of several Western-allied Arab states, such as Saudi Arabia, to sharply boost rebel firepower for twin fronts against Assad’s forces and the Islamic State.
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. 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 the battles around Kobane as Syrian Kurdish fighters tried to hold off a fierce Islamic State offensive.
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. Turkey last week pledged it would not allow Kobane to fall under Islamic State control. Claiming Kobane would give the militants control over key stretches of the Turkish-Syrian border and possibly open new smuggling routes for supplies and recruits.
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. But Erdogan now acknowledged it may be too late. He instead looked ahead to ways to blunt additional Islamic State gains.
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. Erdogan said it was crucial for “the moderate opposition in Syria and Iraq to be trained and equipped.” The Obama administration also has proposed similar measures, but remains slow to act because of worries of al-Qaeda-inspired groups among the rebel ranks.
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. So far, however, the main front against the Islamic State in Syria has been held by Syrian Kurdish militiamen trying to hold Kobane. At the U.S. Central Command said at least five airstrikes targeted Islamic State positions around Kobane since Monday as part of sharply escalated missions in the areas.
Among the reported targets were Islamic State armored vehicles and a tank — presumably part of the arsenal seized from Iraqi military and elsewhere as the militants claimed territory over the past months.
But the airstrikes did not appear to force any major pullbacks by the Islamic State, whose black flag was raised Monday near one of the gateways to Kobane.
More than 160,000 refugees have fled to Turkey or nearby areas to escape the fighting. They joined more than 1.5 million Syrians driven to Turkey by the civil war.
Separately, U.S. military forces used remotely piloted aircraft and helicopters to carry out three strikes in Iraq.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.
Daniela Deane contributed to this report from Rome.Daniela Deane contributed to this report from Rome.