Islamic State jihadists take heavy losses in battle for Kobane on Syria-Turkey border
In a sign that the tide may be turning against Islamic State radicals fighting to take the town of Kobane on the border between Syria and Turkey reports say there have been many casualties
Islamic State was taking heavy losses in the Syrian battleground of Kobane on Sunday as Iraqi forces fought the jihadists buoyed by US backing for top government security appointments.
US Secretary of State John Kerry said the appointment of defence and interior ministers after weeks of delay was a “very positive step forward” in the fightback against IS in Iraq, which Washington has made its priority.
But US-led warplanes kept up their strikes on the jihadists around Kobane on Syria’s northern border with Turkey, helping the town’s Kurdish defenders to repulse a new attempt to cut their supply lines.
The Kurdish fighters, who have been under IS assault for more than a month, weathered fierce street fighting and at least two jihadist suicide bombings but the front line remained unchanged on Sunday, a Kurdish official said.
“[IS] brought in reinforcements ... and attacked hard,” Idris Nassen told reporters by telephone.
“But thanks to air strikes and [the Kurdish fighters’] response, they did not make any progress.”