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Syria crisis: IS re-enters Kurdish-held city of Kobane Syria crisis: IS re-enters Kurdish-held city of Kobane
(35 minutes later)
Islamic State fighters have entered the Syrian city of Kobane, months after being driven out in a long battle with Kurdish troops, activists say. Islamic State fighters have entered the Syrian city of Kobane, months after being driven out in a symbolic battle that made international headlines.
Several people died in fierce clashes in the Syria-Turkey border town. Up to 30 people died in the clashes with Kurdish forces in the Syria-Turkey border town. IS shot dead 20 others in a village nearby, activists say.
The earlier battle made international headlines - heralding what some saw as a symbolic defeat for the IS. IS has recently suffered a string of defeats to Kurdish forces.
IS has suffered a string of defeats to Kurdish forces since then. But in another attack on Thursday, it seized parts of the key city of Hassakeh. But in another attack on Thursday, it seized parts of the key north-eastern city of Hassakeh.
The militants have tried to capture Hassakeh, about 270km (180 miles) east of Kobane in north-eastern Syria, for months. The militants have tried to capture Hassakeh, about 270km (180 miles) east of Kobane, for months.
The apparent two-pronged IS offensive came as Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) forces cut a major supply line for IS, capturing Ain Issa, just 50km (30 miles) from IS headquarters at Raqqa, days after seizing Tal Abyad. Hassakeh is the largest city in north-eastern Syria. An estimated 500,000 people live there, in addition to thousands who have fled violence elsewhere.
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.
Kobane: Key facts:Kobane: Key facts:
Key events in battle for KobaneKey events in battle for Kobane
Kobane: Inside the town devastated by fight against ISKobane: Inside the town devastated by fight against IS
Battle for Iraq and Syria in mapsBattle for Iraq and Syria in maps
As well as cutting an IS supply line, the YPG's capture of Tal Abyad allowed the Kurds to link up other pockets they control along the Turkish border, from Iraq in the east to Kobane in the west.
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.
The IS attack on Kobane began with militants detonating a car bomb that killed up to 25 people and injured 75. The IS attack on Kobane began with militants detonating a car bomb - followed by an assault from dozens of IS fighters from a number of directions.
This was followed by an assault from dozens of IS fighters from a number of directions.
Some may have hidden themselves among returning refugees - there are also reports that they disguised themselves by wearing Kurdish milita uniforms, says the BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville.Some may have hidden themselves among returning refugees - there are also reports that they disguised themselves by wearing Kurdish milita uniforms, says the BBC's Middle East correspondent Quentin Sommerville.
Clashes lasted all morning but the IS militants appear to have been stopped in their tracks, our correspondent says, with local reports suggesting most of the IS fighters had been killed or captured. The IS militants appear to have been stopped in their tracks, our correspondent says, with local reports suggesting most of the IS fighters had been killed or captured.
A reporter with Kurdish news agency Rudaw reports from inside Kobane that he had seen "a wounded woman whose entire family were killed inside their home after IS gunmen entered their house".A reporter with Kurdish news agency Rudaw reports from inside Kobane that he had seen "a wounded woman whose entire family were killed inside their home after IS gunmen entered their house".
Between 30,000 and 35,000 people from a population of about 400,000 have returned to Kobane following the IS defeat in January, a senior Turkish official says.. Between 30,000 and 35,000 people from a population of about 400,000 have returned to Kobane following the IS defeat in January.
Elsewhere, Syrian rebels opposed to President Bashar al-Assad attacked government-held areas of the southern city of Deraa. More than 200,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four years of armed conflict - more than 11 million others have been forced from their homes.
State TV says government forces, backed by air strikes, managed to repel the attack.
More than 200,000 Syrians have lost their lives in four years of armed conflict, which began with anti-government protests before escalating into a full-scale civil war.
More than 11 million others have been forced from their homes as forces loyal to President Assad and those opposed to his rule battle each other - as well as jihadist militants from IS.
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.
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