MURSITPINAR, Turkey (AP) — The crackle of gunfire and explosions are being heard coming from Kobani today, as Islamic State extremists battle street by street with Kurdish forces for control of the Syrian border town.
Columns of smoke can also be seen rising over the town, as the U.S.-led coalition intensifies its aerial bombardment of Islamic State positions.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says Islamic State fighters managed to capture more than a third of the town, including a police station, though the station was later struck by coalition jets.
A local Kurdish official, however, says Kurdish militias have recaptured several parts of Kobani. The Observatory, which relies on activists across Syria, says Kurdish forces have surrounded the jihadists near the police station and heavy fighting continues.
U.S. Central Command says five airstrikes south of Kobani have destroyed an Islamic State group support building and two vehicles, and damaged a training camp. It says the strikes also struck two groups of Islamic State fighters, and it appears that Kurdish continue to control most of the city.
Syrian activists say more than 500 people have been killed in and around Kobani since the fighting began in September.
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159-c-13-(Ryan Lucas, AP correspondent)-“into the air”-AP correspondent Ryan Lucas is on the Turkish side of the Syrian border across from Kobani, where earlier today he described what he was seeing in the distance.((note audio quality)) (9 Oct 2014)
< 160-c-16-(Ryan Lucas, AP correspondent)-“small arms fire”-AP correspondent Ryan Lucas is on the Turkish side of the Syrian border across from Kobani, and he reports that the battle for that city seems to have shifted to the southern and western edges. ((note audio quality; there’s breakup on the phone line)) (9 Oct 2014) < 113-c-09-(Bassem Mroue (BAHS’-uhm MROO’-ee), AP correspondent)-“campaign so far”-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports U.S.-led airstrikes have hit the besieged Syrian town of Kobani in attempts to roll back gains made by Islamic State fighters. (9 Oct 2014) < 114-c-14-(Bassem Mroue (BAHS’-uhm MROO’-ee), AP correspondent)-“more than 500”-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports officials now believe about 500 people have died in the battle around Kobani. (9 Oct 2014) < 115-c-12-(Bassem Mroue (BAHS’-uhm MROO’-ee), AP correspondent)-“the US-led coalition”-AP correspondent Bassem Mroue reports the militants took over a police station in Kobani, but it was later struck by missiles. (9 Oct 2014) < APPHOTO AXLP105: Turkish soldiers on a tank and an armoured vehicle hold their positions on a hilltop in the outskirts of Suruc, Turkey, at the Turkey-Syria border, overlooking smoke rising from a strike in Kobani, Syria, during fighting between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (9 Oct 2014) < APPHOTO AXLP103: Turkish soldiers stand with a tank and an armoured vehicle as they hold their positions on a hilltop in the outskirts of Suruc, Turkey, at the Turkey-Syria border, overlooking smoke rising from a strike in Kobani, Syria, during fighting between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. Kobani, also known as Ayn Arab, and its surrounding areas, has been under assault by extremists of the Islamic State group since mid-September and is being defended by Kurdish fighters.(AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) (9 Oct 2014) < Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.