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Kobani: Isis advance but strength of resistance is thought to surprise them Isis advance further into Kobani but face strong resistance
(35 minutes later)
Islamic State (Isis) fighters have advanced deeper into the Syrian town of Kobani on the Turkish border, taking almost complete control of an area where the local Kurdish administration is based, a monitoring group has said. Islamic State (Isis) fighters have moved deeper into the Syrian town of Kobani on the Turkish border, taking almost complete control of an area where the local Kurdish administration is based, a monitoring group has said.
Isis are now in almost complete control of the security quarter, home to the administrative buildings used by the local government, Rami Abdulrahman, of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said on Friday.Isis are now in almost complete control of the security quarter, home to the administrative buildings used by the local government, Rami Abdulrahman, of the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said on Friday.
Black Isis flags can be seen from Turkey, flying over a strategic hill and on at least one building. The hardline group now controls at least 40% of Kobani, according to the observatory, but Isis commanders have reportedly rushed in extra troops, suggesting the strength of Kurdish resistance has surprised them.Black Isis flags can be seen from Turkey, flying over a strategic hill and on at least one building. The hardline group now controls at least 40% of Kobani, according to the observatory, but Isis commanders have reportedly rushed in extra troops, suggesting the strength of Kurdish resistance has surprised them.
US air strikes continued to hit Isis positions around Kobani overnight but US officials have warned that air strikes alone may not be enough to save the town from Isis. By mid-morning on Friday, occasional gunfire and explosions that appeared to be rocket-propelled grenades and mortar shells could be heard from across the border in Turkey, and plumes of smoke were seen rising in the distance.US air strikes continued to hit Isis positions around Kobani overnight but US officials have warned that air strikes alone may not be enough to save the town from Isis. By mid-morning on Friday, occasional gunfire and explosions that appeared to be rocket-propelled grenades and mortar shells could be heard from across the border in Turkey, and plumes of smoke were seen rising in the distance.
The new UN envoy to Syria warned on Friday that at least 500 civilians trapped in Kobani could be massacred if the town fell to the extremists.The new UN envoy to Syria warned on Friday that at least 500 civilians trapped in Kobani could be massacred if the town fell to the extremists.
Staffan de Mistura said in Geneva that a UN analysis showed only a small portion of Kobani remained open for people to enter or flee the town.Staffan de Mistura said in Geneva that a UN analysis showed only a small portion of Kobani remained open for people to enter or flee the town.
De Mistura says there are about 500 to 700 elderly people and other civilians still trapped in Kobani, while 10,000 to 13,000 are stuck in an area nearby, close to the Syria-Turkey border. De Mistura said there are about 500 – 700 elderly people and other civilians still trapped in Kobani, while 10,000 – 13,000 are stuck in an area nearby, close to the Syria-Turkey border.
He says if Isis wins the town, the civilians in Kobani “will be most likely massacred” and the militants will gain control of a large section of the border region. A Kurdish official in Kobani, Idriss Nassan, said on Friday that Isis had shelled a border crossing in an attempt to take it and cut off the embattled town.
A local Kurdish official in Kobani, Idriss Nassan, said on Friday that Isis had shelled a border crossing in an attempt to take it and cut off the embattled town. Isis this week pushed into Kobani for the first time since launching its offensive in the area in mid-September. The onslaught has forced more than 200,000 people to flee across the border into Turkey and activists say the fighting has killed more than 500 people.
Isis this week pushed into Kobani for the first time since launching its offensive in the area in mid-September. The onslaught has forced more than 200,000 people to flee across the border into Turkey and activists say the fighting over Kobani has killed more than 500 people.
“Daesh (Isis) is doing all it can to take the border crossing point through the farmlands east of the city,” Nassan said. “They think there might be help (for the Kurdish militia) coming through the crossing so they want to control the border.”“Daesh (Isis) is doing all it can to take the border crossing point through the farmlands east of the city,” Nassan said. “They think there might be help (for the Kurdish militia) coming through the crossing so they want to control the border.”