News Digest

United States steps up air strikes on IS in Syria as Turkish Kurds riot

U.S.-led coalition warplanes have intensified bombing raids to push back Islamic State (IS) forces intent on seizing the Kurdish town of Kobane in Syria, the U.S. military said. U.S. and Jordanian aircraft conducted eight additional strikes on IS around Kobane, for a total of 14 coalition strikes for the day and 19 bombing raids near the town since Tuesday, the U.S. Central Command, which is overseeing the air war and American forces in the Middle East, said on Wednesday. U.S. fighter jets and other aircraft also kept up bombing runs in Iraq, with one attack northwest of Ramadi, one in Mosul and another raid south of Kirkuk, it said.

U.S. Central Command continues to monitor the situation in Kobani closely. Indications are that Kurdish militia there continue to control most of the city and are holding out against ISIL.

A statement by U.S. Central Command

Latest reports said around 200,000 people have already fled Kobane and surrounding villages since the fighting began. Two months after the US began launching air strikes in Iraq that later expanded to Syria, IS has retained control of most of the territory it has seized in Iraq and Syria, and threatening to capture Kobane near the Turkish border. The armed rebels could only be decisively defeated by “capable” local forces including moderate rebel fighters in Syria and Iraqi government troops and Kurdish forces, Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters. Meanwhile, at least 21 people were killed in riots in neighbouring Turkey, where Kurds rose up against the government for doing nothing to protect their kin. Despite pledges to the contrary, Turkey has yet to engage in coalition efforts in any meaningful way.

It remains a difficult mission. As I’ve indicated from the start, this is not something that is going to be solved overnight.

U.S. President Barack Obama