U.S. Drops in Supplies to Kurdish Fighters, Turkey Opens Border to Allow Kurdish Fighters into Syria

The U.S. and Saudis continue their airstrikes on the beleaguered city of Kobani.
The U.S. and Saudis continue their airstrikes on the beleaguered city of Kobani.

The outspoken hope coming from Kurdish fighters on Friday was met with the stark reality that the fighting for the city of Kobani has yet to reach its end as ISIS re-surged in their attack on the city with ground forces and increased mortar attacks..

The fiercest and most intense fighting in weeks broke out in the battle to control the city this weekend.

On Friday, Kurdish fighters reported the the Islamic State fighters had fled the city during the night and expected to meet with only suicide bombers and small pockets of ISIS left behind. But, with the hint of a halt in the ISIS advance, U.S. and Saudi forces have upped their airstrikes and continue to pound the Islamic State in and around the city. U.S. officials also say that they have now completed 135 airstrikes on the Islamic State in Kobani thus far.

Also, this weekend, the U.S. made their first airdrop sending in equipment, arms and medical supplies to the Kurdish fighters. According to government officials, three C-130 cargo aircraft dropped 27 bundles of supplies to the Kurds.

A press release sent out by U.S. officials warn that the city is still at risk for falling into ISIS hands, the release said in part, “the security situation in Kobani remains fragile as ISIL continues to threaten the city and Kurdish forces continue to resist.” The release continued, “As the US Central Command commander has noted, Kobani could still fall.”

In breaking news, Turkey has given the go-ahead to allow Kurdish forces, also named the Pesh Merga, to cross the Syrian border to take up arms and assist Kurdish fighters in and around Kobani. This is a reversal from previous statements saying that no assistance would be forthcoming from Turkey.

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