Islamic State crisis: New strikes in Syria near Kobane

[flamingdem]

Source: BBC

A BBC correspondent saw explosions outside the town in the morning.

At least 10 people were killed overnight, Syrian activists said, as the jihadists moved to within 2 to 3km (1.2-1.9 miles) of Kobane.

Tens of thousands of people have fled across the border into Turkey since IS launched an offensive two weeks ago.

The jihadists' advance has put pressure on the Turkish government to take a more significant role in the US-led coalition formed to combat IS.

Ministers submitted a proposal to parliament late on Tuesday to allow Turkish troops to conduct operations in Syria and Iraq, and to allow foreign forces to use Turkish military bases.

Parliament is expected to debate the proposal on Thursday, and the ruling AK Party's majority means it is likely to be approved.

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29442039?ocid=socialflow_twitter

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Pro-Isis reports on twitter state that Isis is now entering Kobane.

[The Magistrate]

1. It Will Be Helpful For Turkey To Weigh In, Ma'am

[Baclava]

2. Turkey treads the tightrope on ISIL, egged on by Washington

Under pressure to take more active stance in coalition, Ankara is mindful of potential backlash from border extremists

Turkey is set to vote Thursday over expanding its role in the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, a decision that could have long-lasting consequences for a country highly susceptible to an ISIL backlash and fearful of inadvertently strengthening other regional enemies.

Ankara has long been accused of turning a blind eye toward ISIL, but under pressure from NATO-ally Washington, Turkey’s parliament will vote Thursday on its options for bearing down on the extremist group in Syria and Iraq. It is expected to consider opening up Turkey's Incirlik airbase to the U.S.-led coalition and may discuss provisional approval for Turkish ground forces to enter Syria, should Turkey come under attack from ISIL.

With porous borders that have become the front lines in the battle against the Al-Qaeda-inspired insurgency, Turkey is vulnerable to fallout both inside and outside its boundaries. Not to mention that Turkey has been reluctant to assume a more prominent role in the U.S.-led coalition for fear it would undo years of Turkish efforts to overthrow the Assad regime and contain Syria and Iraq's Kurdish minorities — who are allied to the Turkey-based Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK), a separatist group designated by both Ankara and Washington as a terrorist organization.

“Turkey has always seen Syria through the lens of its Kurdish problem,” said Gonul Tol, director of the Center Studies for Turkish at the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C. However fearful the Turks are of ISIL’s indiscriminate brutality, the group has been helpful in combatting Turkey’s foremost enemies in Syria: the regime of President Bashar al-Assad and the PYD, the PKK’s sister party in Syria. “If you bomb ISIL, you’re not only removing the most effective force against Assad, but the PYD will also benefit,” Tol said.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/10/1/turkey-anti-isilcoalition.html

[flamingdem]

5. The timing of this vote might explain why Isis is pushing hard into Kobane

Once they're in there it will be hard to dislodge them.

[Baclava]

7. Why would ISIS want Turkey to send it's tanks and army after them? Turkey would crush them.

Turkish Tanks Take Up Position On The Syrian Border

SANLIURFA, TURKEY - Turkish tanks are shown lined up in a closed area behind the border with Syria in Suruc September 28, 2014 south of Sanliurfa, Turkey. Islamic State (IS, also called ISIS and ISIL) fighters are reportedly advancing with heavy weaponry on the strategic Kurdish border town of Kobani (also called Ayn Al-Arab), which they have surrounded on three sides




http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/29/turkish-syria-isis_n_5899334.html

[flamingdem]

10. They're hoping that they will vote against entering the coalition

or simply defend their border.

The vote is Thursday.

[Uncle Joe]

24. Tanks are most effective on the offense, not the defense.

I would be surprised if Turkey didn't join in, perhaps they're coming to view ISIS,ISIL, Daesh as the greater threat to their stability.

[flamingdem]

25. I think that if they do we'll see Isis actions inside of Turkey

They really have a support base there and they're being treated in their hospitals.

Let's hope Turkey goes for it and joins, that will be a big help to the Kurds and will change their historical relationship.

[Uncle Joe]

26. Considering ISIS' absolutist mentality, I believe it would just be a matter of time before we

see them committing actions in Turkey regardless of what the latter does.

[freshwest]

19. Thanks for one of the best articles on the dynamics there posted at DU.

[Baclava]

22. why thank you

I still enjoy reading too

[flamingdem]

3. Hard to tell what's going on with Turkey now

but you're right if they don't act Kobane is pretty much toast. The Kurds are valiant but seriously outnumbered and outgunned. A massacre is in the making.


Kurds Outraged as Turkey Closes Border to Volunteers for Kobane Fight

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/30092014


ISIS Militants Advance As Turkey Considers Ground Troops In Iraq, Syria

http://www.ibtimes.com/isis-militants-advance-turkey-considers-ground-troops-iraq-syria-1697450

[The Magistrate]

12. We Will See, Sir

The source cited does not fill me with confidence there is substance to the claim.

[flamingdem]

13. Someone alerted me to propaganda being published

about Isis in Turkey.

Not sure how this publication fits into that.

[Rhinodawg]

14. I dont know about the source....But if you feel its propaganda...

say the word and I will be happy to send it to the dumpster....no problem.

[Rhinodawg]

15. In fact, to be safe...i'm sending it goodbye.

[Rhinodawg]

16. Thanks for alerting me.

whew.

[flamingdem]

17. I posted the same thing a day ago

and I have no idea what's propaganda and what isn't!

But I think it's okay to wade into the waters. If we worry too much about truth in the Middle East we'll never get anywhere!

I read everything pretty much and check out Isis twitter accounts like this
but of course with a grain of salt:

https://twitter.com/abubakrpro

[Rhinodawg]

18. Well. in any case, thanks for the heads up.

[ballyhoo]

4. So now we have to bomb Kobani, Syria because ISIS

has moved in there? How convenient that the government created terrorists are causing another city in Syria to be attacked. Where will the next terrorist creation be? Will it be the mighty Koopasoupas on the outskirts of Tehran? Well, I'm glad at least the rude pundit knows whats going on. Can you believe this crap, Mr. Jefferson?

[flamingdem]

6. On a humanitarian level the Kurds defending their city are about to be massacred

The coalition is helping somewhat in slowing them down but Turkey is in the way, and they hate the kurds and won't allow the Syrian army into the area since they hate Assad.

[ballyhoo]

8. I can't believe what's happening. This is like something out of

a Tom Clancy novel. The US government can act with impunity because they have veiled themselves with a band of government and ally created terrorists. This is like the NYFD hiring arsonists to go into empty buildings in the Bronx with flamethrowers. And a good bit of us here and in other countries know what is being done. And innocents like the Kurds are holding up the attacks. Pure insanity.

[Baclava]

9. 'We will fight Daesh'

Violence in Ain al-Arab has prompted many Kurdish Syrians to flee to Turkey, but others are returning to battle ISIL.



Mursitpinar, Turkey - Dangling a thick plastic bag that carries many 250ml water bottles, eight-year-old Ali, a Syrian refugee who is now on the Turkish border, looks around to offer water to worried-looking men.

"Take it," he insists, as hundreds of Kurdish men, women and children - some sitting on the ground and others standing - watch a battle unfold mere kilometres away between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Kurdish fighters in Ain al-Arab, called Kobane by the Kurds.

Ali's father and older cousins are among the Kurdish group across the border. "They are not trained and have never picked up a gun, but they are helping the [Kurdish] fighters in whatever way they can," said Ali's 34-year-old mother, who crossed to the Turkish side of the border for her own protection.

As ISIL fighters rampaged towards the town of Ain al-Arab after taking more than 100 surrounding small villages in the past week, People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters have resisted them. The YPG is a Kurdish rebel group operating on Syrian territory; it is primarily the only Kurdish group fighting ISIL, although some sources say Syrian rebels who fought against Assad are aiding them.

Echoes of gunfire frequently ring through the sky, while Kurds in the Turkish district of Suruc cheer on their brethren. "Kobane! Kobane!" they cry as the Kurds fire on ISIL. Passing pairs of binoculars around, they all take turns to spot black-clad ISIL fighters on one side and Kurds on the other - although in some areas, the battle is so close they do not need binoculars.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/09/will-fight-daesh-2014928101835679118.html

[The Magistrate]

20. The Deliberate Obtuseness You Display, Sir, Is Literally Incredible

It is almost impossible for anyone reading this to believe you actually take the nonesense you have posted seriously.

Attacks are not being made on a city; people defending the city they live in are being given assistance against an attack made on their city.

[Rhinodawg]

21. .

[OilemFirchen]

23. Is that a self-portrait? (n/t)