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Syria air strikes: Why can't the US-led coalition stop the march of Isis? Syria air strikes: Why can't the US-led coalition stop the march of Isis?
(35 minutes later)
With Isis on the verge of victory in Kobani, while continuing its advance on Baghdad, questions have been raised over how the US-led coalition should attempt to deal with the threat of the militants.With Isis on the verge of victory in Kobani, while continuing its advance on Baghdad, questions have been raised over how the US-led coalition should attempt to deal with the threat of the militants.
Isis fighters now reportedly control more than a third of the strategic border town in northern Syria, despite airstrikes today which have been the most intensive in the campaign so far. Isis fighters now reportedly control more than a third of the strategic border town in northern Syria, despite air strikes today which have been the most intensive in the campaign so far.
The UK and the US have warned airstrikes alone will not stop the town from being taken, yet according to a study of the estimated strength of the two forces, there is clear disparity between the respective sizes of the two forces. The UK and the US have warned air strikes alone will not stop the town from being taken, yet according to a study of the estimated strength of the two forces, there is clear disparity between the respective sizes of the two forces.
The study, carried out by Statista for The Independent, suggests the number of coalition troops available to fight on the ground out-number Isis militants by more than 20 to one. The study, carried out by Statista for The Independent, suggests the number of coalition troops available to fight on the ground outnumber Isis militants by more than 20 to one.
And while Isis fighters are backed up by assorted artillery, tanks and small arms captured by Syrian and Iraqi inventories, Kurdish peshmerga and Iraqi army troops are bolstered with three US Navy ships and aircraft from air forces across the world.And while Isis fighters are backed up by assorted artillery, tanks and small arms captured by Syrian and Iraqi inventories, Kurdish peshmerga and Iraqi army troops are bolstered with three US Navy ships and aircraft from air forces across the world.
The estimated strength of the US-led coalition is Isis forcesThe estimated strength of the US-led coalition is Isis forces
According to the study, the number of Isis fighters in Iraq and Syria is believed to stand at between 10,000 and 31,000.According to the study, the number of Isis fighters in Iraq and Syria is believed to stand at between 10,000 and 31,000.
The number of Kurdish peshmerga meanwhile is understood to be 375,000 while the Iraqi Army is believed to have 275,000 active personnel.The number of Kurdish peshmerga meanwhile is understood to be 375,000 while the Iraqi Army is believed to have 275,000 active personnel.
The coalition troops are also backed up by three US Navy ships - USS Philippine Sea, USS Arleigh Burke and USS George HW Bush - along with a range of aircraft including six F-22 Raptors from the US Air Force, six Tornado GR4s from the UK and eight Australian F/A-18 Super Hornets.The coalition troops are also backed up by three US Navy ships - USS Philippine Sea, USS Arleigh Burke and USS George HW Bush - along with a range of aircraft including six F-22 Raptors from the US Air Force, six Tornado GR4s from the UK and eight Australian F/A-18 Super Hornets.
Isis militants launched their offensive on Kobani in mid-September, capturing several nearby Kurdish villages and steadily tightening their noose around the town since then.Isis militants launched their offensive on Kobani in mid-September, capturing several nearby Kurdish villages and steadily tightening their noose around the town since then.
The fighting has also forced at least 200,000 town residents and villagers from the area to flee across the frontier into Turkey.The fighting has also forced at least 200,000 town residents and villagers from the area to flee across the frontier into Turkey.
Britain today has joined calls for Turkey to step in to help defeat Isis forces threatening the towni. Peshmerga fighters hold a position behind sandbags in Diyala province, which is a gateway to Baghdad, as battles with Isis fighters continue Britain today has joined calls for Turkey to step in to help defeat Isis forces threatening the town.
Peshmerga fighters hold a position behind sandbags in Diyala province, which is a gateway to Baghdad, as battles with Isis fighters continue
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon urged the government in Ankara to become involved, as he acknowledged Isis had to be defeated in both Iraq and Syria.Defence Secretary Michael Fallon urged the government in Ankara to become involved, as he acknowledged Isis had to be defeated in both Iraq and Syria.
Following last month's emergency Commons vote, Britain is currently conducting air strikes against Isis forces in Iraq.Following last month's emergency Commons vote, Britain is currently conducting air strikes against Isis forces in Iraq.
"We don't have authority from Parliament to operate in Syria at the moment. Our judgment at the moment is that Parliament wouldn't give us that authority," he said."We don't have authority from Parliament to operate in Syria at the moment. Our judgment at the moment is that Parliament wouldn't give us that authority," he said.
The US-led coalition meanwhile today pounded Isis positions in Kobani in some of the most intensive strikes in the air campaign so far, a Kurdish official and an activist group said.The US-led coalition meanwhile today pounded Isis positions in Kobani in some of the most intensive strikes in the air campaign so far, a Kurdish official and an activist group said.
A Tornado GR4 alongside a Voyager refuelling aircraft during the RAF’s first combat mission against Isis in northern Iraq Isis fighters however managed to capture a police station in the east of the town despite the air strikes, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said.
Isis fighters however managed to capture a police station in the east of the town despite the airstrikes, the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said. A Tornado GR4 alongside a Voyager refuelling aircraft during the RAF’s first combat mission against Isis in northern Iraq But despite the air strikes overnight and into the morning, the Islamic State fighters managed to capture a police station in the east of the town, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
But despite the airstrikes overnight and into the morning, the Islamic State fighters managed to capture a police station in the east of the town, said the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The militants now control more than third of the strategic border town, added the Observatory, a group that tracks Syria's civil war through a network of activists on the ground.The militants now control more than third of the strategic border town, added the Observatory, a group that tracks Syria's civil war through a network of activists on the ground.