Islamic State Insurgents Enter Kobane - UPDATES

UPDATES: Pushed Back in East; Attacking from South

The Islamic State insurgents overran the city of Kobane in Syrian Kurdistan today, and began raising their flags over city buildings. They entered Kobane from both east and west. The Kurdish fighters still in the city are putting up fierce street fights against the invaders. YPG, the main Syrian Kurdish political and military organization, said that thousands of civilians also are inside the town. The lives of Kurdish defenders and civilians still in Kobane are in grave danger. 

The capture of Kobane, besieged for 20 days, would give Islamic State control of a long stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border.

UPDATE (Late Monday 10/6): The U.S.-led coalition made a push to save Kobane on Monday, conducting airstrikes on IS positions, and Kurdish fighters pushed IS militants out of the eastern part of Kobani, where they had raised their black flag.

UPDATE (Tuesday 10/7): Islamic State fighters launched a large attack on Kobane from the south on Tuesday, poised to overrun the city.

Photo credit: An Islamic State flag waves on a hill outside Kobane; 6 October 2014 (AFP)

45,000 Flee Syria into Turkey from Islamic State Militants

UPDATE: Number of Syrian Kurds Seeking Asylum in Turkey Reaches 100,000 and Rising

Some 45,000 mainly Syrian Kurds have crossed into Turkey in the past 24 hours as the Islamic State militants advanced in northern Syria. Most fled the Kurdish town of Kobane. (BBC, 20 September)

ISIL has seized 60 villages around the town this week, and were expected to move into Kobane, Syria’s major Kurdish population center. The head of Syria’s Kurdish Democratic Union, Mohammad Saleh Muslim, has appeared for international assistance in the battle against the militants.

“Kobane is facing the fiercest and most barbaric attack in its history,” Muslim said. “the coming hours are decisive.” (Reuters, 20 September)

The capture of the town would give Islamic State control of a large strip of Syria’s northern border with Turkey.

UPDATE: Number of Syrian Kurds seeking asylum in Turkey reached 100,000, and rising. (Sunday, 21 September)

Photo credit: Syrian Kurds and other refugees crossing into Turkey for flee advancing Islamic State militants. (Reuters)