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| Kobane: IS and Syria Kurds in fierce gun battles | Kobane: IS and Syria Kurds in fierce gun battles |
| (35 minutes 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. |
| 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. |
| An official inside Kobane said the Kurdish forces were now pushing back the Islamic State fighters. | An official inside Kobane said the Kurdish forces were now pushing back the Islamic State fighters. |
| Seizing Kobane would give the IS jihadists full control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. | Seizing Kobane would give the IS jihadists full control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border. |
| This has been a primary route for foreign fighters getting into Syria, as well as allowing IS to traffic oil from oilfields it has captured. | This 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' |
| A senior official in Kobane, Idriss Nassan, told news agencies the IS militants had suffered "their biggest retreat since their entry into the city" and that many had been killed. | A senior official in Kobane, Idriss Nassan, told news agencies the IS militants had suffered "their biggest retreat since their entry into the city" and that many had been killed. |
| "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 has 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 has been pushed from many positions." |
| But he added: "Kobane is still in danger and the air strikes should intensify in order to remove the danger." | But he added: "Kobane is still in danger and the air strikes should intensify in order to remove the danger." |
| The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also said that IS fighters had withdrawn from several areas they had earlier controlled. | The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group also said that IS fighters had withdrawn from several areas they had earlier controlled. |
| US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday the US was "deeply concerned about the people of Kobane". | US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Wednesday the US was "deeply concerned about the people of Kobane". |
| But he said: "Horrific as it is to watch the violence, it is important to keep in mind the US strategic objective" - which, he added, was to deprive IS of command-and-control centres and the infrastructure to carry out attacks. | |
| The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Martin Dempsey, told ABC News that IS was becoming "more savvy". | |
| "We have been striking when we can... They don't fly flags and move around in large convoys the way they did. They don't establish headquarters that are visible or identifiable." | |
| 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. |
| Turkey meanwhile remains under intense pressure to do more to help the Kurdish forces fighting in Kobane. | |
| At least 19 people have reportedly been killed in Kurdish protests over Turkey's role. | |
| Kurds are angry that Turkey has prevented fighters crossing the border to fight IS in Kobane. | Kurds are angry that Turkey has prevented fighters crossing the border to fight IS in Kobane. |
| Last week Turkey's parliament also authorised military action against the jihadists in Iraq and Syria, but so far no action has been taken. | Last week Turkey's parliament also authorised military action against the jihadists in Iraq and Syria, but so far no action has been taken. |
| 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 | 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. |
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