Turkey refuses solo fight

Mursitpinar: Islamic State fighters seized control of a third of the key Syrian border town of Kobane on Thursday, as Turkey rejected sending in troops on its own against the rebels. IS militants advanced in the strategic town overnight despite intensified US air strikes, as calls grew for ground action to support Kobane’s beleaguered Kurdish defenders.

But after talks with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said: “It’s not realistic to expect that Turkey will lead a ground operation on its own.”

 

Kobane, whose Kurdish defenders have been holding out against a three-week siege by the jihadists, has become a crucial battleground and symbol of resistance to IS. The coalition carried out two fresh strikes early on Thursday as it continued a flurry of bombing raids on IS positions in and around the town. Nearly 20 coalition bombing raids have hit near Kobane since Tuesday, but Washington said air strikes alone would not be enough to save it.

 

Turkey has come under fire for its inaction as the jihadists advance on its doorstep, with protests in Kurdish areas sparking clashes that claimed at least 22 lives and forced authorities to declare a curfew in six provinces.Street battles have been raging in Kobane since the jihadists breached its defences. The rebels pulled out of some areas but have since renewed their offensive and seized more ground.