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Kobane: Islamic State battles to encircle Syrian Kurds Kobane: Islamic State battles to encircle Syrian Kurds
(about 1 hour later)
Gunfire and explosions can be heard from the Syrian border town of Kobane where Islamic State fighters are trying to encircle its Kurdish defenders.Gunfire and explosions can be heard from the Syrian border town of Kobane where Islamic State fighters are trying to encircle its Kurdish defenders.
The IS militants attacked western parts of the town but have yet to take the border crossing point with Turkey. The Kurds repulsed a pre-dawn attack and still control the town's border crossing point with Turkey.
The crossing point is a vital supply and exit route, correspondents say.The crossing point is a vital supply and exit route, correspondents say.
In Iraq, officials in Anbar province made an urgent appeal for military help, saying the area could fall to IS militants "in days".In Iraq, officials in Anbar province made an urgent appeal for military help, saying the area could fall to IS militants "in days".
The US-led coalition is continuing air strikes against IS in both Iraq and Syria but the Kurds in Kobane say they urgently need more weapons and ammunition.The US-led coalition is continuing air strikes against IS in both Iraq and Syria but the Kurds in Kobane say they urgently need more weapons and ammunition.
The US has itself said that air strikes alone may not be able to save the town.The US has itself said that air strikes alone may not be able to save the town.
Haze and dustHaze and dust
As the sounds of battle continued on Saturday, haze and dust obscured Kobane, making air strikes more difficult but not impossible, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville said in a tweet from the Syria-Turkey border.As the sounds of battle continued on Saturday, haze and dust obscured Kobane, making air strikes more difficult but not impossible, the BBC's Quentin Sommerville said in a tweet from the Syria-Turkey border.
The Kurdish militiamen have pushed back the latest IS advance inside Kobane but the militants are being easily resupplied from the south and the east and are able to launch further attacks, our correspondent says. The Kurdish militiamen have pushed back the latest IS advance but the militants are being easily resupplied from the south and the east and are able to launch further attacks, our correspondent says.
A Syrian Kurdish official told BBC Arabic that IS had carried out intensive attacks on different areas across the south-west, south-east and east of the town.
Amid the sound of gunfire, black plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the south and west of the town, another foreign journalist at the scene, Derek Henry Flood, tweeted.Amid the sound of gunfire, black plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the south and west of the town, another foreign journalist at the scene, Derek Henry Flood, tweeted.
Several hundred civilians are still believed to be in Kobane. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported two more air strikes.
On Friday, UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura warned that they would "most likely be massacred" by IS if the town fell. Several hundred civilians are still believed to be in Kobane. UN envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura has warned they could be massacred by IS if the town falls.
Ismet Sheikh Hassan, a senior member of the Kurdish forces defending Kobane, repeated those fears, telling AP news agency that air strikes had not been effective enough.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported two more air strikes on Saturday.
Since the IS offensive against Kobane began in mid-September, some 500 people have been killed and up to 200,000 have fled across the border into Turkey.Since the IS offensive against Kobane began in mid-September, some 500 people have been killed and up to 200,000 have fled across the border into Turkey.
Two Kurdish fighters, a man and a woman, were buried on Saturday in a cemetery just outside the Turkish town of Suruc, across the border from Kobane.
The burial ceremony, attended by some 200 people, ended with chants of "Long live Kobane!", AP reports.
Mr de Mistura called on Turkey to allow Kurdish volunteers to cross into Syria with equipment "to be able to enter the city to contribute to a self-defence operation".Mr de Mistura called on Turkey to allow Kurdish volunteers to cross into Syria with equipment "to be able to enter the city to contribute to a self-defence operation".
Turkey has ranged its military forces on the border but has so far ruled out any ground operation on its own, and has refused to allow Kurds in Turkey to cross the border to fight.Turkey has ranged its military forces on the border but has so far ruled out any ground operation on its own, and has refused to allow Kurds in Turkey to cross the border to fight.
Turkey is reluctant to get involved militarily, partly because it is concerned about arming the Kurdish forces who are fighting the IS militants. Turkey fought a long civil war with its Kurdish minority. Accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of inaction, Kurdish refugees from Kobane told Reuters news agency they feared they would be unable to return to their homes.
The lack of action has led to deadly protests in Turkey by Kurds. "If the United States helps us, we could return," said one. "If the United States is willing to help, not like Erdogan, we could return today. But countries are just looking at us. What they're waiting for, I don't know. They watch to see what will happen. You see the situation here and people are not in good shape. People die, including children. We are homeless."
'Fragile''Fragile'
Meanwhile in Iraq, the provincial council in Anbar submitted a request to the Iraqi government asking for US ground troops to help fight IS militants, Iraq's al-Sharqiyah TV reported.Meanwhile in Iraq, the provincial council in Anbar submitted a request to the Iraqi government asking for US ground troops to help fight IS militants, Iraq's al-Sharqiyah TV reported.
The vice-president of the council, Faleh al-Issawi, warned Anbar could "fall in 10 days".The vice-president of the council, Faleh al-Issawi, warned Anbar could "fall in 10 days".
The jihadist group has been attacking the provincial capital Ramadi, and has seized army bases in the area.The jihadist group has been attacking the provincial capital Ramadi, and has seized army bases in the area.
A US official told AFP news agency the situation in Anbar was "fragile".A US official told AFP news agency the situation in Anbar was "fragile".
The US military has carried out several air strikes on IS militants, preventing them from seizing the strategic Haditha dam.The US military has carried out several air strikes on IS militants, preventing them from seizing the strategic Haditha dam.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has repeatedly ruled out any foreign ground troops in Iraq.Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has repeatedly ruled out any foreign ground troops in Iraq.
IS fighters control large stretches of territory in Syria and Iraq. The group is known for its brutal tactics, including mass killings, abductions of members of religious and ethnic minorities, and the beheadings of soldiers and journalists.IS fighters control large stretches of territory in Syria and Iraq. The group is known for its brutal tactics, including mass killings, abductions of members of religious and ethnic minorities, and the beheadings of soldiers and journalists.