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Turkey’s Erdogan says Islamic State close to taking control of Syrian border town Turkey’s Erdogan says Islamic State close to taking control of Syrian border town
(about 4 hours later)
Turkey’s president conceded Tuesday that Islamic State fighters were close to taking control of a strategic Syrian border town and suggested that airstrikes alone were not enough to stop further advances by the militants. Turkey’s president predicted Tuesday that Islamic State fighters were close to taking control of a strategic Syrian border town and suggested that airstrikes alone were not enough to stop further advances by the militants.
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.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.
“Kobane is about to fall,” Erdogan told Syrian refugees in the Turkish town of Gaziantep just days after Turkish leaders vowed to keep Kobane out of Islamic State hands.“Kobane is about to fall,” Erdogan told Syrian refugees in the Turkish town of Gaziantep just days after Turkish leaders vowed to keep Kobane out of Islamic State hands.
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. Claiming Kobane would give the militants sway over key stretches of the Turkish-Syrian border and possibly open new smuggling routes for supplies and recruits.
Instead, he called 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. Erdogan appeared braced for that possible blow, and tried to look ahead to future showdowns.
It further underscored Turkey’s parallel objectives in the Islamic State fight. He gave no signals that NATO-member Turkey was preparing to send its powerful military over the border. Instead, he called 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 seeks to create an internationally protected buffer zone to block refu­gee flow and provide possible 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. It underscored Turkey’s parallel objectives in the Islamic State fight.
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. Turkey seeks to create an internationally protected buffer zone to block refu­gee flow and provide possible havens for anti-Assad rebels. Turkey 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 pledged last week that 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. 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 positions, which are within sight of the battles around Kobane as Syrian Kurdish fighters tried to hold off a relentless Islamic State offensive.
But Erdogan now acknowledged that it may be too late. He instead looked ahead to ways to blunt additional Islamic State gains. But there has been no move by Turkish forces to enter the fight. Turkey pledged last week that it would not allow Kobane to fall under Islamic State control. Erdogan now acknowledged that it may be too late for Kobane, and tried to promote Turkey’s vision of how to contain and confront the Islamic State.
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. He 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 about al-Qaeda-inspired groups among the rebel ranks.
So far, however, the main front against the Islamic State in Syria has been held by Syrian Kurdish militiamen trying to hold Kobane. The U.S. Central Command said at least five airstrikes have targeted Islamic State positions around Kobane since Monday as part of sharply escalated missions in the region. So far, however, it’s fallen to Syrian Kurdish militiamen to try to hold Kobane, known as Ayn al-Arab in Arabic. The U.S. Central Command said at least five airstrikes have targeted Islamic State positions around Kobane since Monday as part of sharply escalated attack missions in the region.
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. Among the reported targets were Islamic State armored vehicles and a tank — presumably part of an arsenal seized from government forces in Iraq and Syria as the militants claimed territory in recent 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.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.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. Kurds staged protests across Turkey and in some European cities demanding stronger action to protect Kobane and its residents. About 50 protesters stormed into the European Parliament in Brussels. In Varto, a town in eastern Turkey, one demonstrator was killed during clashes with security forces, news reports said.
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. Separately, U.S. military forces used remotely piloted aircraft and helicopters to carry out attacks 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 gained footholds 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, an Iraqi helicopter was brought down near the Baiji oil refinery in northern Iraq.
Daniela Deane in Rome contributed to this report.Daniela Deane in Rome contributed to this report.