This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-29526783
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Kobane: IS fighters targeted by new air strikes | Kobane: IS fighters targeted by new air strikes |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The US-led coalition has carried out more air strikes to try to repel Islamic State (IS) militants attacking the Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane. | The US-led coalition has carried out more air strikes to try to repel Islamic State (IS) militants attacking the Syria-Turkey border town of Kobane. |
| The BBC's Paul Adams heard three raids in 30 minutes - and eight in total - on Tuesday, in support of Syrian Kurds. | The BBC's Paul Adams heard three raids in 30 minutes - and eight in total - on Tuesday, in support of Syrian Kurds. |
| However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned air strikes were not enough and Kobane was "about to fall". | However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned air strikes were not enough and Kobane was "about to fall". |
| At least 400 people have died in three weeks of fighting for Kobane, monitors say, and 160,000 Syrians have fled. | At least 400 people have died in three weeks of fighting for Kobane, monitors say, and 160,000 Syrians have fled. |
| If IS captures Kobane, its jihadists will control a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. | If IS captures Kobane, its jihadists will control a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. |
| Separately, a Kurdish demonstrator has been killed in clashes with Turkish police in the town of Varto, news agencies say, as Kurds widen their protests against what they view as Turkey's inaction over Kobane. | Separately, a Kurdish demonstrator has been killed in clashes with Turkish police in the town of Varto, news agencies say, as Kurds widen their protests against what they view as Turkey's inaction over Kobane. |
| Evacuation | Evacuation |
| The latest media release from the US military confirmed five air strikes around Kobane, saying they were on Monday and Tuesday, but without specifying exactly when. | The latest media release from the US military confirmed five air strikes around Kobane, saying they were on Monday and Tuesday, but without specifying exactly when. |
| It said the attacks had destroyed four IS armed vehicles and an "IS unit", and damaged one IS tank and one armoured vehicle. | It said the attacks had destroyed four IS armed vehicles and an "IS unit", and damaged one IS tank and one armoured vehicle. |
| However, our correspondent says more air strikes could be heard on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total to eight since 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) - by far the most sustained coalition action in the area. | However, our correspondent says more air strikes could be heard on Tuesday afternoon, bringing the total to eight since 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT) - by far the most sustained coalition action in the area. |
| He says that as a result, fighting in the city has died down considerably - it was quiet but for occasional crackles of gunfire in the afternoon. | He says that as a result, fighting in the city has died down considerably - it was quiet but for occasional crackles of gunfire in the afternoon. |
| UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had crossed into a southern district of Kobane, after heavy fighting on Monday evening had forced it to pull back from eastern districts. | UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said IS had crossed into a southern district of Kobane, after heavy fighting on Monday evening had forced it to pull back from eastern districts. |
| The town is now besieged on three sides. A humanitarian mission to evacuate the few thousand civilians left in Kobane continued on Tuesday. | The town is now besieged on three sides. A humanitarian mission to evacuate the few thousand civilians left in Kobane continued on Tuesday. |
| Mr Erdogan said on a visit to a refugee camp for Syrians: "The problem of [IS] cannot be solved via air bombardment. Right now, Kobane is about to fall. | Mr Erdogan said on a visit to a refugee camp for Syrians: "The problem of [IS] cannot be solved via air bombardment. Right now, Kobane is about to fall. |
| "We had warned the West. We wanted three things: no-fly zone, a secure zone parallel to that, and the training of moderate Syrian rebels," he said. | "We had warned the West. We wanted three things: no-fly zone, a secure zone parallel to that, and the training of moderate Syrian rebels," he said. |
| Mr Erdogan said that "the terror will not be over... unless we co-operate for a ground operation", although he gave no further details. | Mr Erdogan said that "the terror will not be over... unless we co-operate for a ground operation", although he gave no further details. |
| Analysis by Murat Nisancioglu, BBC Turkish | |
| When he says that Kobane is going to fall and Islamic State will not be defeated by air strikes, what Mr Erdogan means is that the Turks are ready to help on the ground, but only if the coalition's objectives include the removal of President Assad from power in Syria. | |
| Turkey's other conditions are: a buffer zone inside Syria along the Turkish border and a no-fly zone to prevent the Syrian air force from operating. | |
| Turkey sees the Kurds in Syria as a threat, not least because they are trying to establish autonomy in the region, the success of which will inevitably influence the peace talks with the Kurds in Turkey. |