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Islamic State fighters give up positions ringing Syrian town amid wave of U.S. airstrikes Islamic State fighters give up positions ringing Syrian town amid wave of U.S. airstrikes
(about 1 hour later)
ANTAKYA, Turkey — Islamic State fighters gave up ground ringing a besieged Syrian border town Wednesday as U.S.-led airstrikes tried to tip the scales in a battle that has become a broad test of international efforts to contain the militants. ANTAKYA, Turkey — Islamic State fighters gave up ground ringing a besieged Syrian border town on Wednesday as U.S.-led airstrikes tried to tip the scales in a battle that has become a broad test of international efforts to contain the militants.
Kurdish officials described Islamic State forces pulling back from frontline positions in the town of Kobane — a day after Turkey’s president said it was on the verge of falling into the militants’ hands. Kurdish officials described Islamic State forces pulling back from frontline positions in Kobane — a day after Turkey’s president said the town was on the verge of falling into the militants’ hands.
The apparent retrenching by the Islamic State is unlikely to end its attempt to overrun the town, located in Syria’s Kurdish region and within sight of the Turkish border. But the intensified airstrikes have given Kurdish militias a chance to bolster defenses and regroup after weeks of clashes.The apparent retrenching by the Islamic State is unlikely to end its attempt to overrun the town, located in Syria’s Kurdish region and within sight of the Turkish border. But the intensified airstrikes have given Kurdish militias a chance to bolster defenses and regroup after weeks of clashes.
In Iraq, an official said Islamic State fighters used a shoulder-fired missile to bring down an Iraqi military helicopter, the Associated Press reported. The two pilots aboard were killed in the second such downing in a week near Beiji, the site of the country’s largest oil refinery about 130 miles north of Baghdad. Even while the airstrikes increase around Kobane, Secretary of State John F. Kerry stressed that Washington and its allies must not stray from the wider goals of trying to destroy the Islamic State’s lifeblood such as oil smuggling routes and supply lines.
“As horrific as it is to watch in real time what is happening in Kobane . . . you have to step back and understand the strategic objective,” Kerry told reporters in Washington.
In Iraq, meanwhile, an official said Islamic State fighters used a shoulder-fired missile to bring down an Iraqi military helicopter, the Associated Press reported. The two pilots aboard were killed in the second such downing in a week near Beiji, the site of the country’s largest oil refinery about 130 miles north of Baghdad.
The battle for Kobane highlights many of huge challenges and deep political complexities in the confrontations against the Islamic State, which control wide areas of Iraq and Syria.The battle for Kobane highlights many of huge challenges and deep political complexities in the confrontations against the Islamic State, which control wide areas of Iraq and Syria.
Gaining control of Kobane would be a propaganda boost for the Islamic State and show the limitations of airstrikes to halt its ground advances. It could also touch off another refu­gee wave, adding to the more than 160,000 people who have fled the fighting.Gaining control of Kobane would be a propaganda boost for the Islamic State and show the limitations of airstrikes to halt its ground advances. It could also touch off another refu­gee wave, adding to the more than 160,000 people who have fled the fighting.
For the international coalition, Kobane underscores the internal frictions that complicate unity.For the international coalition, Kobane underscores the internal frictions that complicate unity.
NATO-member Turkey has tanks and troops at the border and authority from its parliament to intervene in Syria and Iraq. But Turkey has held back while it presses its demands, including sharply boosting international support for Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. NATO-member Turkey has tanks and troops at the border, and authority from its parliament to intervene in Syria and Iraq. But Turkey has held back while it presses its demands, including sharply boosting international support for Syrian rebels seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Turkey and some key Western allies in the Arab world have joined the fight against the Islamic State but — in tandem — also are focused on bringing down Assad.Turkey and some key Western allies in the Arab world have joined the fight against the Islamic State but — in tandem — also are focused on bringing down Assad.
Journalists at the Turkish border could hear gunfire in Kobane on Wednesday. A Kobane envoy, Idris Nassan, told the Reuters news agency that Islamic State fighters had withdrawn from some positions inside the town.Journalists at the Turkish border could hear gunfire in Kobane on Wednesday. A Kobane envoy, Idris Nassan, told the Reuters news agency that Islamic State fighters had withdrawn from some positions inside the town.
Meanwhile, an attack believed carried out by Kurdish fighters destroyed a mosque minaret used by the Islamic State group as a lookout post, activists said, according to the AP.Meanwhile, an attack believed carried out by Kurdish fighters destroyed a mosque minaret used by the Islamic State group as a lookout post, activists said, according to the AP.
American-led airstrikes have been stepped up in the Kobane area in the past days, hitting targets that include Islamic State armored vehicles and artillery. But the extent of the arsenal — mostly looted from Iraq military sites and elsewhere — points to the Islamic State’s determination to press the siege on Kobane.American-led airstrikes have been stepped up in the Kobane area in the past days, hitting targets that include Islamic State armored vehicles and artillery. But the extent of the arsenal — mostly looted from Iraq military sites and elsewhere — points to the Islamic State’s determination to press the siege on Kobane.
At least six airstrikes were launched in the Kobane area since Tuesday as part of wider aerial attacks by warplanes and drones in Syria and Iraq, the U.S. Central Command said. More airstrikes were seen around Kobane on Wednesday.At least six airstrikes were launched in the Kobane area since Tuesday as part of wider aerial attacks by warplanes and drones in Syria and Iraq, the U.S. Central Command said. More airstrikes were seen around Kobane on Wednesday.
In Iraq, the attack on the helicopter shows the capabilities of Islamic State fighters to target air power operating far lower than fighter jets. A Defense Ministry official told the AP that the Bell 407 helicopter was hit near the site where a Mi-35 chopper was brought down on Friday. Two people also were killed in last week’s attack.In Iraq, the attack on the helicopter shows the capabilities of Islamic State fighters to target air power operating far lower than fighter jets. A Defense Ministry official told the AP that the Bell 407 helicopter was hit near the site where a Mi-35 chopper was brought down on Friday. Two people also were killed in last week’s attack.
The intensified airstrikes around Kobane came after Islamic State forces raised their black flag on the outskirts of Kobane and Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, predicted the town could no longer resist the Islamic State offensive.The intensified airstrikes around Kobane came after Islamic State forces raised their black flag on the outskirts of Kobane and Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, predicted the town could no longer resist the Islamic State offensive.
On Tuesday, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Secretary of State John F. Kerry has spoken twice by phone with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. The conversations were “broadly about the challenges we’re facing with ISIL and also Kobane,” she said, using an alternative acronym for the Islamic State.
In further pressures for Turkey, security forces in several areas clashed with Kurdish protesters demanding more help for fellow Kurds in Kobane. The unrest left at least 12 people dead and dozens injured, Turkish reports said.In further pressures for Turkey, security forces in several areas clashed with Kurdish protesters demanding more help for fellow Kurds in Kobane. The unrest left at least 12 people dead and dozens injured, Turkish reports said.
The tensions threaten attempts by Turkey to ease a more than 30-year conflict with its Kurdish minority — part of a Kurdish heartland that includes parts of Iran and Syria. Turkey imposed curfews across its Kurdish-dominated southeast and deployed tanks onto the streets of Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish city in the region.The tensions threaten attempts by Turkey to ease a more than 30-year conflict with its Kurdish minority — part of a Kurdish heartland that includes parts of Iran and Syria. Turkey imposed curfews across its Kurdish-dominated southeast and deployed tanks onto the streets of Diyarbakir, the largest Kurdish city in the region.
Murphy reported from Washington.Murphy reported from Washington.