Kurdish peshmerga arrive with weapons in Syria’s Kobani

Iraqi Kurdish forces arrived in the Syrian town of Kobani with heavy weapons to help Syrian Kurds fend off attempts by Islamic State (IS) insurgents to seize the town and cement control of the Turkish border region. The peshmerga are expected to take part in the military action in Kobani in the next few hours, Kurdish officials said. Syrian Kurdish fighters welcomed the fighters, saying they could help tip the balance in a battle raging for more than 40 days.

Right now the peshmerga are making preparations. They are taking up their positions, preparing their guns and are ready for combat. They will be fighting today at the front.

Enver Muslim, the top Kurdish administrative official in the Kobani district

Despite having limited strategic significance, Kobani has become a powerful international symbol in the battle against the hardline Sunni Muslim insurgents who have captured large expanses of Iraq and Syria and declared an Islamic “caliphate”. The arrival of the 150 Iraqi fighters would mark the first time Turkey has allowed ground troops from outside Syria to reinforce Syrian Kurds, who have been defending Kobani for more than 40 days. At least one U.S.-led air strike hit IS positions around Kobani on Saturday, said Idris Nassan, deputy foreign minister of Kobani district.

Middle East Kobani