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-29532291
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Kobane: IS and Syria Kurds in fierce gun battles | Kobane: IS and Syria Kurds in fierce gun battles |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Kurdish fighters are engaged in fierce gun battles with Islamic State (IS) in the Syrian border town of Kobane, as US-led coalition air strikes continue. | Kurdish fighters are engaged in fierce gun battles with Islamic State (IS) in the Syrian border town of Kobane, as US-led coalition air strikes continue. |
| A BBC correspondent near the fighting says dozens of weapons are firing, with regular grenade explosions. | A BBC correspondent near the fighting says dozens of weapons are firing, with regular grenade explosions. |
| In its latest report, the US Central Command said six air strikes had destroyed IS weaponry around Kobane. | In its latest report, the US Central Command said six air strikes had destroyed IS weaponry around Kobane. |
| The UN envoy for Syria has urged the international community to act now to prevent IS from seizing the key town. | The UN envoy for Syria has urged the international community to act now to prevent IS from seizing the key town. |
| Staffan de Mistura told the BBC that the fall of Kobane would be "a massacre and a humanitarian tragedy". | Staffan de Mistura told the BBC that the fall of Kobane would be "a massacre and a humanitarian tragedy". |
| Seizing the entire town would give the IS jihadists full control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border, which has been a primary route for foreign fighters getting into Syria, as well as allowing IS to traffic oil from oilfields it has captured. | Seizing the entire town would give the IS jihadists full control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border, which has been a primary route for foreign fighters getting into Syria, as well as allowing IS to traffic oil from oilfields it has captured. |
| Three weeks of fighting over Kobane has cost the lives of 400 people, and forced more than 160,000 Syrians to flee across the border to Turkey. | Three weeks of fighting over Kobane has cost the lives of 400 people, and forced more than 160,000 Syrians to flee across the border to Turkey. |
| At the scene: Paul Adams, BBC world affairs correspondent | At the scene: Paul Adams, BBC world affairs correspondent |
| Two days after fighters from Islamic State entered Kobane, a battle is raging for the town's eastern streets. | Two days after fighters from Islamic State entered Kobane, a battle is raging for the town's eastern streets. |
| We reached the border, within a few hundred yards of the fighting, and I have rarely heard anything quite like it. | We reached the border, within a few hundred yards of the fighting, and I have rarely heard anything quite like it. |
| At times, it seems dozens of weapons are firing at once, and there are regular grenade explosions too. Thick black smoke is rising from buildings on fire. | At times, it seems dozens of weapons are firing at once, and there are regular grenade explosions too. Thick black smoke is rising from buildings on fire. |
| US-led coalition air strikes have been concentrated on the western reaches of the city, where the IS advance seems to have been halted. | US-led coalition air strikes have been concentrated on the western reaches of the city, where the IS advance seems to have been halted. |
| Jets can still be heard flying overhead. | Jets can still be heard flying overhead. |
| 'Retreat' | 'Retreat' |
| IS fighters are trying to retake areas in the east that they have lost control of as a result of coalition air strikes, says the head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. | IS fighters are trying to retake areas in the east that they have lost control of as a result of coalition air strikes, says the head of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. |
| Rami Abdel Rahman, quoted by AFP, said IS had earlier retreated from parts of the eastern and south-western edges of the town and was no longer present on the western front. | Rami Abdel Rahman, quoted by AFP, said IS had earlier retreated from parts of the eastern and south-western edges of the town and was no longer present on the western front. |
| Our correspondent says Kurdish fighters feel emboldened a day after witnessing coalition air strikes on Kobane that brought the IS advance to a halt. | Our correspondent says Kurdish fighters feel emboldened a day after witnessing coalition air strikes on Kobane that brought the IS advance to a halt. |
| The US Central Command listed the damage done by six coalition air strikes south and south-west of Kobane over Tuesday and Wednesday. | The US Central Command listed the damage done by six coalition air strikes south and south-west of Kobane over Tuesday and Wednesday. |
| It said an armoured personnel carrier, four "armed vehicles" and two artillery pieces were destroyed. | It said an armoured personnel carrier, four "armed vehicles" and two artillery pieces were destroyed. |
| There were three further air strikes on IS in other parts of Syria and five in Iraq. | There were three further air strikes on IS in other parts of Syria and five in Iraq. |
| Correspondents reported at least four more air strikes around Kobane on Wednesday afternoon. | Correspondents reported at least four more air strikes around Kobane on Wednesday afternoon. |
| A senior official in Kobane, Idriss Nassan, told Reuters news agency the IS militants had suffered "their biggest retreat since their entry into the city". | A senior official in Kobane, Idriss Nassan, told Reuters news agency the IS militants had suffered "their biggest retreat since their entry into the city". |
| "They are now outside the entrances of the city of Kobane. The shelling and bombardment was very effective and as a result of it, IS have been pushed from many positions." | "They are now outside the entrances of the city of Kobane. The shelling and bombardment was very effective and as a result of it, IS have been pushed from many positions." |
| However, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (PYD) said the situation remained very serious, with fighters from its armed wing, the Popular Protection Units (YPG), under intense pressure. | However, the leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Unity Party (PYD) said the situation remained very serious, with fighters from its armed wing, the Popular Protection Units (YPG), under intense pressure. |
| "There is heavy fighting going on by YPG forces and they're trying to defend the civilians," Salih Muslim said. "There is a very large operation against them." | "There is heavy fighting going on by YPG forces and they're trying to defend the civilians," Salih Muslim said. "There is a very large operation against them." |
| In New York, the UN's special envoy for Syria said the Syrian Kurds had defended Kobane with great courage and the international community should now take concrete action to support them. | In New York, the UN's special envoy for Syria said the Syrian Kurds had defended Kobane with great courage and the international community should now take concrete action to support them. |
| Meanwhile, a senior US official told the New York Times that "there's growing angst about Turkey dragging its feet to act to prevent a massacre less than a mile from its border". | Meanwhile, a senior US official told the New York Times that "there's growing angst about Turkey dragging its feet to act to prevent a massacre less than a mile from its border". |
| "After all the fulminating about Syria's humanitarian catastrophe, they're inventing reasons not to act to avoid another catastrophe," the official said. | "After all the fulminating about Syria's humanitarian catastrophe, they're inventing reasons not to act to avoid another catastrophe," the official said. |
| Last week Turkey's parliament authorised military action against the jihadists in Iraq and Syria, but so far no action has been taken. | Last week Turkey's parliament authorised military action against the jihadists in Iraq and Syria, but so far no action has been taken. |
| Turkey has come under increasing pressure to do more to help the Kurdish forces fighting in Kobane. | Turkey has come under increasing pressure to do more to help the Kurdish forces fighting in Kobane. |
| At least 18 people have been killed in Kurdish protests in Turkey over the lack of Turkish military support. | |
| What are Turkey's demands and can they be met? | What are Turkey's demands and can they be met? |
| Turkey's fear of a reignited Kurdish flame | |
| Are you in or near Kobane? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in or near Kobane? Get in contact by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file, you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file, you can upload here. |
| Read the terms and conditions. | Read the terms and conditions. |