Air Strikes Near Kobani Not Stopping ISIS Takeover of Syrian Town

Battle for Kobani has moved in to the streets of the Kurdish town.

ByABC News
October 7, 2014, 11:50 AM

— --

  • Lightly armed Kurdish fighters in the Syrian border town of Kobani have for weeks held off an ISIS onslaught, but the battle has moved to the streets of Kobani as the president of Turkey warned today that the town was about to fall to the Islamic militants.

    • The fight for the Kurdish city and its surrounding villages has sent more than 160,000 Kurdish refugees streaming to the Turkish border when many have been prevented from crossing.

    Turkish tanks are poised along the border with their guns pointed toward Kobani, but the tanks haven't moved. Instead, Turkish authorities have been battling desperate Kurdish refugees trapped between ISIS and the border.

    The embattled Kurds are also angry that U.S. air power has been used sparingly in recent days as ISIS pushed its way into Kobani. There were a handful of sorties on Monday and the U.S. military said that today's strikes around Kobani destroyed five ISIS armed vehicles, a tank and ISIS unit of fighters.

    PHOTO: Kurdish people throw stones at Turkish armored vehicles near the Syrian town known as Kobane by the Kurds, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.
    Kurdish people throw stones at Turkish armored vehicles firing tear gas as Turkish army soldiers try to remove people from the Turkish-Syrian border area near the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobane by the Kurds, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Sanliurfa province, Oct. 7, 2014.
    PHOTO: Kurdish people run away from tear gas as Turkish army tries to remove them from the Turkish-Syrian border area near the Syrian town known as Kobani by the Kurds, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.
    Kurdish people run away from tear gas as Turkish army tries to remove them from the Turkish-Syrian border area near the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.

    U.S. and partner nations reportedly fired five air strikes over the course of Monday and today that were specifically targeting ISIS tanks and artillery. CENTCOM released a statement this morning saying that they used "attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft" to strike the targets in the areas surrounding Kobani.

    Though the strikes were targeting ISIS anti-aircraft artillery and tanks that were likely headed towards Kobani, there are no reports of clear action being taken against the ISIS fighters who are fighting in Kobani.

    PHOTO: Turkish army patrols near the Turkish-Syrian border area near the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.
    Turkish army patrols near the Turkish-Syrian border area near the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.

    The jihadist group's signature black flag with white writing were spotted flying on top of a few buildings in the outskirts of Kobani on Monday and today.

    PHOTO: Smoke rises from the central part of the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, as seen from the Turkish-Syrian border, as a Kurdish flag waves during heavy fighting, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.
    Smoke rises from the central part of the Syrian town of Ain al-Arab, known as Kobani by the Kurds, as seen from the Turkish-Syrian border, as a Kurdish flag waves during heavy fighting, in the southeastern town of Suruc, Turkey, Oct. 7, 2014.
    PHOTO: Militants with the Islamic State group are seen after placing their group's flag on a hilltop at the eastern side of the town of Kobani, Syria, Oct. 6, 2014.
    Militants with the Islamic State group are seen after placing their group's flag on a hilltop at the eastern side of the town of Kobani, Syria, where fighting had been intensified between Syrian Kurds and the militants of Islamic State group, Oct. 6, 2014.

    Kurdish protesters in Cyprus are demanding further action by Turkey and other European nations to help defend Kobani. The Associated Press reports that such protests were also taking place at the European Parliament in Brussels where one group of demonstrators forced themselves into the building past police.

    Similar protests took place in Berlin and Frankfurt where there are large Kurdish populations as well as in the Netherlands and Austria.

    ABC News Live

    ABC News Live

    24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events