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Syria crisis: IS makes deadly return to Kobane | Syria crisis: IS makes deadly return to Kobane |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Islamic State fighters have attacked the Syrian city of Kobane, months after being driven out in a symbolic battle that made international headlines. | Islamic State fighters have attacked the Syrian city of Kobane, months after being driven out in a symbolic battle that made international headlines. |
They detonated car bombs and launched an assault. Kurdish media say at least 50 civilians have been killed, including 20 in a nearby village. | |
IS has recently suffered a string of defeats to Kurdish forces. | IS has recently suffered a string of defeats to Kurdish forces. |
But in another attack on Thursday, it seized parts of the key north-eastern city of Hassakeh. | But in another attack on Thursday, it seized parts of the key north-eastern city of Hassakeh. |
Key events in battle for Kobane | |
The apparent two-pronged IS offensive came as Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) cut a major supply line for IS near Raqqa. | The apparent two-pronged IS offensive came as Kurdish fighters from the Popular Protection Units (YPG) cut a major supply line for IS near Raqqa. |
Raqqa is the de facto capital of the caliphate whose creation IS announced a year ago after it captured large swathes of northern and western Iraq. | Raqqa is the de facto capital of the caliphate whose creation IS announced a year ago after it captured large swathes of northern and western Iraq. |
Analysis: Quentin Sommerville, BBC Middle East correspondent: | Analysis: Quentin Sommerville, BBC Middle East correspondent: |
Kobane still matters to IS. It was never important strategically, but this latest attack shows that its loss, after five months of heavy street-to-street fighting and coalition aerial bombardment, still hurts IS. | Kobane still matters to IS. It was never important strategically, but this latest attack shows that its loss, after five months of heavy street-to-street fighting and coalition aerial bombardment, still hurts IS. |
As was the case last November when a huge vehicle bomb exploded at the same spot, questions are being asked if the attackers made it in from the Turkish side, and if so, why Turkey didn't stop them. | As was the case last November when a huge vehicle bomb exploded at the same spot, questions are being asked if the attackers made it in from the Turkish side, and if so, why Turkey didn't stop them. |
Thursday's assault is a reminder, too, that IS, despite recent losses in the area, is still very much active and capable of offensives. Overnight they also attacked Hassakeh to the east, a far bigger prize. | Thursday's assault is a reminder, too, that IS, despite recent losses in the area, is still very much active and capable of offensives. Overnight they also attacked Hassakeh to the east, a far bigger prize. |
Despite the narrative of the last few weeks, IS is far from being on the back foot. | Despite the narrative of the last few weeks, IS is far from being on the back foot. |
Kobane: Inside the town devastated by fight against IS | Kobane: Inside the town devastated by fight against IS |
Battle for Iraq and Syria in maps | Battle for Iraq and Syria in maps |
The IS attack on Kobane began with militants detonating a car bomb, followed by an assault from dozens of fighters from a number of directions. | |
There are reports that some may have hidden themselves among returning refugees, and disguised themselves by wearing Kurdish militia uniforms. | |
A reporter with the privately-owned Kurdish television station NRT said they infiltrated the city at dawn "and then went on a killing spree", targeting people in their homes as they slept. | |
Hours later two more car bombs exploded. | |
In the nearby Kurdish village of Bakha Botan, at least 20 civilians - among them women and children - were reportedly shot dead by IS fighters. | |
At least eight IS militants and a number of Kurdish fighters have been killed in the fighting in Kobane, activists say. | |
One senior local official told BBC Persian that the situation in Kobane itself was now "under control" but clashes were continuing on its eastern and northern outskirts. | |
Speculation that the militants had entered Kobane from Turkey were strongly rejected by Turkish officials. | |
Hassakeh, about 270km (180 miles) east of Kobane, has been under the control of both government forces and Kurdish fighters, and IS militants have been trying to capture it for months. | Hassakeh, about 270km (180 miles) east of Kobane, has been under the control of both government forces and Kurdish fighters, and IS militants have been trying to capture it for months. |
The militants reportedly struck at government-held neighbourhoods and captured two districts. Syrian state TV said local people were being forced from their homes. | |
At least 30 government loyalists and 20 militants are believed to have been killed, along with an unknown number of civilians. | |
Hassakeh is the largest city in north-eastern Syria, with an estimated 500,000 residents, in addition to thousands who have fled there to escape violence elsewhere. | |
Following IS's defeat in Kobane in January, as many as 35,000 of the city's 400,000 population had begun to return. | |
More than 200,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four years of armed conflict, and more than 11 million others have been forced from their homes. | |
Did you witness the attack in Kobane? Are you in the area? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. Please make sure you are in a safe place before contacting us. | Did you witness the attack in Kobane? Are you in the area? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your story. Please make sure you are in a safe place before contacting us. |
If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. |
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