AFP

 

The Islamic State group took heavy losses yesterday in the Syrian battleground of Kobane as Iraqi forces fought the militants buoyed by US backing for top government security appointments.

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.

American-led warplanes launched 11 air strikes near Kobane on Saturday and yesterday, US Central Command said, helping Kurdish fighters repulse a new IS attempt to cut their supply lines from Turkey.

Kobane’s Kurdish defenders have been under IS assault for more than a month. They weathered fierce street fighting and at least two militant suicide bombings but the front line remained unchanged yesterday, a Kurdish official said.

“(IS) brought in reinforcements... and attacked hard,” Idris Nassen told AFP by telephone. “But thanks to air strikes and (the Kurdish fighters’) response, they did not make any progress.”

The IS fighters suffered heavy losses in Kobane, which has become a key prize as it is being fought under the gaze of the world media massed just across the border in Turkey.

From Saturday into yesterday morning, 31 IS fighters died in the battle, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Coalition air strikes near Kobane hit 20 IS fighting positions, five IS vehicles and two IS-held buildings, said Central Command.

The US military has said it sees “encouraging” signs in the battle for Kobane, but has warned the town may still fall.

Yesterday the White House said President Barack Obama called his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan and they pledged to “strengthen co-operation” against IS in Syria.

But US commanders say their top priority remains neighbouring Iraq, where IS swept through much of the Sunni Arab heartland north and west of Baghdad in June.

Grievances of the Sunni majority against the Shia led-government were a major factor in the lightning advance, and Washington has been piling pressure on Baghdad to form an inclusive government to mount a fightback.

 

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